<p>I am planning to transfer as a junior to some school as a science major next fall. I've spent a lot of time reading textbooks and journal articles about a few relatively narrow topics, and I've noticed that some schools are doing research about these topics I am interested in, and I've noticed particular professors who seem to publish articles which are particularly interesting to me. </p>
<p>Most of these schools are way way way out of state for me (they are on the other side of the country...). So I can't exactly visit the schools. (If only I had the money...)</p>
<p>Part of me is tempted to email the professors conducting the research particularly interesting to me, and tell them I'm interested in their research, explain why, and ask if they think their school would be a good fit for the things I want to study. But here I run into logistical problems:</p>
<p>Logistical problem #1: One school has multiple professors doing really interesting things. Would I email them both the same email? Or would it be better to just pick one? </p>
<p>Logistical problem #2: Would it be okay to email the department person designated to give info to potential students for general information and then also email specific professors to indicate my interest in their stuff specifically?</p>
<p>Logistical problem #3: Would it even be considered polite to email a professor at a school I don't yet attend? Should I not even do this??</p>
<p>Although I would like to email these researchers because I am genuinely interested in their research and want their opinion on whether I would fit in at their school, another reason for my wanting to email is to signal to these schools that I am an enthusiastic and competent student with genuine interest- for admissions and fin. aid purposes. What are other ways to signal to a school that one has a genuine interest in a school's research?</p>
<p>PS... yeah. I'm just an undergraduate and it seems like choosing a school which lines up with research interests really is more of a grad. student thing. That was going to be one of the things I was going to ask in my planned emails: whether they think I would benefit from having very specific undergraduate research options available so much to justify going to school way out of state, or if they think I should just go to school locally and talk to them again in two years when I will be applying to graduate programs...</p>
<p>I asked the coordinator of our honors program a similar question about contacting professors that I'd be interested in working with. Not only did she recommend it, she asked that I keep track of responses.</p>
<p>For example, I emailed a couple of professors at my reach school (an Ivy) and got warm, lengthy replies from both. I didn't expect to hear anything back. However, one of them even asked me follow up questions about my own research work. That doesn't say anything about my potential as a candidate for admission. Rather, it presupposes that the profs there share a genuine intellectual curiousity that'll be satisfyingly available to an undergraduate - a transfer, no less!</p>
<p>Give it a shot. After all, there really is nothing to lose.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, both of you. I am so glad I posted this question now. I would probably have remained too shy to email anyone had it not been for these encouraging responses. I had better get started drafting some emails!</p>
<p>I agree, you should definitely go for it! It will give you an idea of what kind of people the professors will be and how it would be like to work with them, etc. </p>
<p>However, one thing you should know is that it's unlikely that the professors are going to contact admissions and let them know that you e-mailed, so it's not going to be on their radar for interest. If you want to demonstrate interest, e-mail admissions a few times with smart questions and keep up a correspondence with them. Visit the school if possible and stay overnight. Do an interview at the school or with an alum. They'll be able to take note of these things because they're done through admissions, unlike your e-mails to professors. I'm not saying that it wouldn't be worth it to e-mail, but you should express your interest in other ways as well. By the way, some schools don't even care if you show interest. If you're looking at schools like that, it won't matter how many times you visit or which professors you e-mail. State schools almost always do admissions by the numbers, and I've also read that Ivies aren't as concerned with interest because they know they can sway you with an acceptance if they really want you.</p>
<p>Good luck, and I hope all goes well for you!</p>