<p>I am applying for either an M.Eng. or an M.S. in EE. I have read a lot about how you should contact professors you are interested in working with. The problem is that I have a B.S. in mechanical engineering so I do not fully understand a lot of the research I have read. Should I even bother contacting professors if I will be taking a class based masters? If so what do you recommend I say?</p>
<p>I don’t think most professors will be interested in talking to a non-PhD student.</p>
<p>I agree for the most part. Some people I’ve talked to said you should talk to professors, even if just an MS student, but usually only good if you’re a Ph.D. student. Professors are trying to run small businesses, and they want people who are willing to sign on for at least 4 years, usually more. </p>
<p>Since you are non-thesis (course based), you shouldn’t even take the time. It will have no bearing since you aren’t looking to do research.</p>
<p>Contacting professors is 100% about the research process. If you are doing a coursework masters there is no reason to contact professors individually.</p>
<p>i contacted professors. it helped.</p>
<p>Really? What did you say and how did it help?</p>
<p>I was under the impression that you should not be contacting professors unless you really know someone specific you would like to work for. Besides, they hardly respond back, especially if they are faculty at top schools as they are pretty busy individuals. But, couple days ago, after much contemplation, I contacted one of the professors at Univ. of Michigan and I got a very positive response. I emailed by saying that I was interested in his work and I gave a reference to my CV as well. I got a prompt reply back from him saying that he liked my credentials and would be happy to talk in the future. So, I am in the midst of writing a follow-up email back to his reply. Glad to see there exists professors who genuinely support us hopefuls out there! Now, this doesnt mean I will be contacting every professor out there considering the amount of schools I am applying to (13) – only the ones that I have mutual research interests with or the ones that I would like to work with. </p>
<p>Hope this helps! Good luck!</p>
<p>i only contacted professors whom i had met at conferences / professors who were friends of my research advisors. one at UCB said he would review my application instead of the adcom, or something to that effect…as in, he would push my app through.</p>