I’m applying to Arts & Sciences, and I’m wondering if it’s appropriate or even beneficial to email a professor to ask about his/her research.
As background, I’ve been conducting scientific research that I hope to publish in an academic journal.
I wanted to contact a professor or two who conduct research in the same subfield. Or perhaps those in a related subfield that seem like they have research that is very interesting to me. I’m curious about generally if there’s opportunities to work with them as an undergraduate
I wanted to contact professors: 1) to help learn more about opportunities to see if Penn might be the ideal fit for me 2) if it can give me a leg up in admissions at all to relay my research interests to a faculty member who might be able to appreciate it, I wanted to take the opportunity
Agree. Wait and see if you actually get in before contacting a professor. It may actually be a detriment to do it now as you have no basis for doing so as an applicant. It has absolutely no leg up to do that.
This is just my opinion, and I could be, and likely am totally wrong, but I think it may be come off as a little pushy to do that at this time when everyone is applying. Unless you have somewhat of an appropriate connection to a professor, maybe if you had taken a summer course at Penn or something, then it would be appropriate, but I really don’t think it is, and it certainly won’t help you and isn’t necessary at this time.
I don’t know a thing about Univ of Penn, but this seems fine so long as your approach is that you are trying to find a college that is a good fit for you and where you will be able to pursue your area of interest. Make sure to leave anything about admissions out of messages to professors.
Tell the professor a bit about your research and the title of the paper if you have one. Mention the name of the professor you are working with if you think that professor may be well-known and well-liked in your subfield. Ask if the professor has any undergraduate researchers and what year students generally start undergraduate research in the department.
Make sure that, even in your mind, you are doing this for your reason #1 and not reason #2. Reason #2 is almost always a graduate school thing.
@Ynotgo Yes my purpose is to establish possible fit. As you said, I was going to give a quick 2-3 sentence description of my research and ask about his and his experience working with undergraduates
I have no intention on mentioning anything about admissions except that I’m a prospective applicant, as opposed to current student. Though as a curiosity, I did wonder if I could then list that on my application when colleges ask how you became interested and if there is any other way to signal this reason as a possible fit in admission
@jarrett211 My guess is the professors have direct awareness as to the application cycle and it is simply admissions officers who feel inundated at this time
I do agree with @jarrett211 that it is a bit presumptuous and obnoxious, but in the end it’s your admissions decision that you’ll have to deal with. It’s not going to be the basis for your decision, but I definitely don’t think it will help you.
The professors are not part of admissions, nor can they suggest anything. Bribery would be hot if such was possible. Unless you have worked with the professor before OR have taken a class with him, e-mailing him won’t help much. It’s also unusual that student who isn’t enrolled is asking Penn staff for work/advice/counseling/etc. Anything conversation between you two is between you two only. The professor, if under contract, may also be unable to publish information about work without approval.
TL;DR: It won’t help you. If you’re working on apps, stop trying to cheat your way in. A recommendation is a lot stronger than mentioning about “e-mailing with a professor”.
@ComputerAge@toffys Will it hurt to email a professor? I’d be interested in feedback in my research generally speaking and curious about opportunities for undergraduates. If I don’t get a response, I don’t see it as anything lost
It won’t hurt you but I doubt you have any benefit from sending e-mail. You are not accepted student yet, so he would not care much about whether you are interested in his project or not. If you are accepted, yes, he probably answer your question. Otherwise, your e-mail won’ do anything. Mostly ignored or you will get e-mail directing his lab web page.
@javislife1998 It won’t necessarily “hurt” you in regards to the application process, but it won’t help you either. The professor will most likely be uninterested because you aren’t a student. If you got accepted, he will be interested in maintaining connections, but he will not have any influence on the application process.
If you’re curious about opportunities for undergrads, you should talk to a representative or alumni instead. The professor probably receives hundreds emails from enrolled students every week, he won’t be interested in communicating with a stranger.