How to frame interest in a professor/potential advisor?

[flower303]

I'm revising my SOP for an English department in which one of my absolute academic heroes works. Not the biggest of the big or "famous" by any means, but well known across several fields and someone who has honestly influenced the way I think and whose work I have read and nearly underlined/post-it flagged into oblivion

Comments

[sociolograd]

I think if you can articulate some specific ways that the person's work has influenced you -- which it sounds like you should be able to -- that would be extremely impressive and convincing. Anyone can make a generic statement after reading the department's website for 5 minutes; since you truly have engaged with this person's work, find a way to show that. Emphasis on show (not tell).