Graduate school - contacting prospective advisers

<p>Hey everyone, first time poster long time reader. I am applying to Cal State San Marcos for their MA Psychology program. I wanted to get some opinions on what to say/ask in emails to prospective graduate advisers. I sent a professional email to the one I wish to study under and she gave me a short reply which read:</p>

<p>"I do expect to accept one, maybe two, students for next year. I will look forward to seeing your application! Let me know if you have further questions in the mean time"</p>

<p>In the initial email I mentioned her research and mentioned my goals and what I would like to research. I feel like I need to strike while the iron is hot and build rapport with this professor. Just curious on how and what kind of things could I say, or not say, or if I even need to. This is my first time applying to graduate school. Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Bryan</p>

<p>I think it is that the next thing she expects to see is your application. And she is letting you know that she is only taking on one or two. I think further emails are pointless and even may be annoying unless you really have a question before you apply. Work on making a really good application.</p>

<p>I think people have begun to overstate the importance of the initial professor contact. It’s true that a professor who knows you can help you get into a program if they are very excited about you, but that’s mostly true for PhD programs and research-based MAs that are designed to be intensive and/or longer than 2 years. (An MA in psychology might fall under that). The other thing is it really comes from a professor who <em>knows</em> you, not just has heard from you via email.</p>

<p>I agree with BrownParent, in that future emails are likely to annoy her. You don’t build rapport over email. You just have to make sure that your application is outstanding. If you have any further questions about her research or the program that can’t be answered on the website, then you can email her again.</p>

<p>thanks for the advice, I will wait for her to see my application. I have a question regarding my “stats” which I will post in a new thread</p>