<p>I want to ask a professor to do a research product with me this Summer... how, do I ask. I'm really extremely nervous and I want to present myself well. Should i send a copy of my grades, transcript or something else? Please help.</p>
<p>Email the professor and express your interest. You can ask whether the professor wants to see your transcript in the email but I’d avoid sending it directly just in case he/she feels that you are pretentious.</p>
<p>what do you think about this letter.</p>
<p>Dear professor,
My name is nil desperandum. I am a High school student at NeedInternship High School. I was wondering if you would allow me to research with you. I am fascinated by your pursuit of the Biological sciences and I have read Experiment 1 and Experiment 2. I know that I am young and in high school but I promise to conduct myself with the utmost decorum. Would you please email me back and tell me if you would consider allowing me to assist you in your research. I am also willing to send my transcript to you.
Thank you,
Nil</p>
<p>What should i add or take out. Is that respectful enough… what else do I say.</p>
<p>You should add:
- Your grade
- whether the professor can send you a few his/her publications so that you can have a better understanding of his/her research.<br>
- What is your specific interest (include #3 if and only if you have one)
- ask for a face-to-face meeting. </p>
<p>I would exclude “I know that I am young and in high school” because it doesn’t sound very confident.
Hope my suggestions help.</p>
<p>^eh, I’d keep the young and in high school thing. But I second inclusion of your specific interests.</p>
<p>I agree with happysunnysunshine- don’t include “I know that I am young and in high school.”</p>
<p>Change “I was wondering if” to something like " I am interested in any suitable research positions in your lab." Change “I am fascinated by your pursuit of the Biological sciences” to something like “I am interested in biology”<br>
Describe your background - what , if any experience in a lab do you, what bio courses have you taken, have you done any science team stuff…
Change “Would you please email me back…” to “Can I meet with you to discuss any openings”?</p>
<p>i sent the email to two professors
wish me luck.
I edited out
i am young and inexperienced." you are right,it doesn’t sound confident.</p>
<p>Basically everything that happysunnyshine said. </p>
<p>Also, you might want to contact a number of professors who might be conducting research in your area of interest just because some of professors are inaccessible through email, etc. Maybe call them - although it might too upfront? But it worked for me.</p>
<p>Definitely, have a few questions about his research or past publications. I recently landed myself an internship with a professor/future mentor (haha, 3 days ago) - the interview was kinda informal in the sense, he expected a lot of questions from me and my particular interests. This draws me to point another thing: be clear and specific in your interests - once again, the concern that my mentor had was that I was ambiguous in my writing about my particular interests. (because I was clearly desperate for one - so I was channeling everything)</p>
<p>Don’t be too intimidated (even though, I was a mess when I was being interviewed). Show that you are intellectually curious. Not all mentors/professors are intimidating (and thankfully, mine wasn’t - he was really nice and friendly.)</p>
<p>Either way, I wish you luck! I hope it works out - I’m excited for this summer.</p>
<p>I am now desperately searching for one as well. Wish me good luck. :)</p>
<p>@nil: contacting two professors is far from enough. Try at least 5. You won’t hurt their feelings if eventually you say ‘Sorry, but thanks’ to a few professors.</p>
<p>Good Luck, Nil! :]</p>
<p>If you would still like to know how to write a letter to a professor to ask for an internship, you may pm me.</p>
<p>I previously wrote to those who saw this thread and requested for a sample:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/834923-would-unprofessional-if-i-email-professors-asking-internship.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/834923-would-unprofessional-if-i-email-professors-asking-internship.html</a></p>
<p>Good luck! I’d wait to hear from these professors before sending out other emails (wait at least a week). Some may never get back to you, especially if they have spam blockers, but since you’re the one pursuing this internships, it’s rude to say, “Oh, thanks but no thanks for your consideration.” This isn’t a job hunt; you’re asking unsuspecting professors to take time out of their day to consider your offer and respond.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>None of them have gotten back to me in weeks. Should i call them?</p>
<p>^Email other professors.</p>
<p>Nil,</p>
<p>I just noticed this thread. If you still haven’t heard anything, you might want to network your way in. Talk with your teachers at high school (email them over the summer) and see if they can write the profs on your behalf. </p>
<p>If you belong to a church, synagogue or other trans-generational organization, sleuth out if there is anyone who has connections with the university and would introduce you to the professors.</p>
<p>Some professors are unfriendly, some are away traveling, some are overwhelmed with mentoring their current students, so if you are not successful, do not take it personal. Even so, be respectful and persistent. </p>
<p>You might also find out if their are special high school programs with that university. Once fall term starts, find out if there are departmental lecture series or email lists that you can subscribe to so as to stay in the loop.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>thanks for all your help guys, I eventually did find a professor to accept me for research through my mother’s contacts. I was overjoyed. However, his experiment is heavily based in chemistry and calculus. And i have only had honors chem and no calculus. i barely understand his work sometimes…
Sigh, I must shoulder on.</p>