<p>Okay so I wanted to get involved in research, and a professor finally responded. However, the project that he assigned me to, I realized within 2 visits was something that I was definitely uninterested in, and he is asking for too much of my time for a volunteer position-- next semester, my coursework is a lot tougher, and I need to make sure my GPA doesn't tank too much.
I don't want to waste his time, so I want to tell him politely that I don't want to join his lab. How do I tell him this?</p>
<p>Professor Soandso,</p>
<p>I appreciate all that have you have done for me, but I have come to realize that my research interests lay in another direction to which I really need to be devoting my efforts.</p>
<p>Thank you again
rainingsunshine</p>
<p>P.S. Yes, I know that undergraduate research does not have to be in the precise area I want to research in grad school.</p>
<p>P.P.S. Yes, I know no backsies.</p>
<p>Anything works really. I’d suggest doing it in person though, because that’s more polite.</p>
<p>Alternatively, you can ask for a different project and tell him that you won’t really have much time next semester. Most professors understand that undergrads can be too busy, and they also have more than one project at a time that could use some help.</p>
<p>You can tell him that you don’t have enough time, you just got a job, it doesn’t matter if you tell a white lie to not hurt his feelings, tell him you need to pay rent and are being forced to get a job which will take up his lab time</p>