Comments | applyingtograd: Asking someone to supervise my research

fealsamh in applyingtograd

Asking someone to supervise my research

Apr 16, 2010 14:24

Hello! I will be graduating with my MA this May, and I am applying to one PhD program (I really want to get in!). I have been told to contact Dr. So-and-so to ask if he is interested in supervising my research.

I am not sure if I should just mention the topic I want to research, or if I should submit to him a full research proposal (like 3 pages ( Read more... )

e-mailing programs, research statement, research interest, research, research experience, research proposal, contacting professors

Comments 5

tisiphone April 16 2010, 19:54:36 UTC

I would make the first approach casual - just email him and provide a short synopsis of what you want to research and why you think he'd be a good advisor for that topic, and ask if he's taking on more students. You won't be formulating a formal research proposal for maybe years, and your interests might change in the meantime.

(And no, having the director tell you to ask if someone can advise you doesn't mean you're in, it just means they consider you worthy of .. er, consideration. Wait for the official notification :)

i_like_snow April 17 2010, 04:10:46 UTC

yes ladykathryn is right

endxgame April 16 2010, 23:01:18 UTC

I think this is probably someone field dependent but I agree with ladykathryn. Send a somewhat casual e-mail introducing yourself and your research and asking if s/he might be interested in supervising your work.

I am sort of confused by timelines here... have you already submitted all your materials and are seeking admissions for the fall of 2010?

fealsamh April 17 2010, 02:06:03 UTC

Thanks guys!
Yeah, I submitted all my materials already. The director called to tell me to apply for funding on the University's website, and contact this professor.

roseofjuly April 25 2010, 16:55:46 UTC

I only applied to one PhD program as well. And I got in. (Granted I applied to 4 MPH programs at the same time, but I really wanted the PhD, and this was the only program I really wanted at the time.)

In any case, if you submit the research proposal he probably will not initially read it. I think it's far better to e-mail the professor, say you're interested in his research, make the e-mail mostly about him and then state that you're interested in working with him on X problem (short statement about your own interests that's 1-22 sentences long). If he's interested he'll ask for more details.

Honestly, in the long run I think it's better to be sufficiently vague about your research because it will morph a LOT between now and graduation.