Hi everyone,
I’m applying to several schools for Anthropology, and I’d like to email some professors and department heads to get a feel of their program and to introduce myself. However, I’m not quite sure how to go about it without sounding like an inept, naive idiot. Can anyone who’s been in my situation help with how to present myself and in what direction my email should go? I’m not even sure how to write an effective subject line. Any help is MUCH appreciated. Thanks so much!
You could try emailing the Director of Graduate studies in each department. That is a professor who oversees the program. You could ask in your email for a phone conversation with the DGS, and maybe ask for names of current grad students who might be willing to talk with you. Subject line: Prospective grad student interested in learning more
Most professors and or head of departments like talking to students. I know this sounds basic but just email them and ask your questions. As stated if you want to talk on the phone VS email then ask to setup a time to call and keep that time. Keep in mind… Professors etc love interested students. Do yourself a favor. Look up whom you will be talking to . They might be doing research etc in something you are interested in. This is something that I taught my kids to do and it has always worked in their favor.
Oops, I should have clarified. I’m a high school senior applying for a bachelor’s in Anthropology.
I’m sorry, I misread the OP. Yes, you could email profs with “Prospective student has questions” or something similar. However, if admission rates are very low, I wouldn’t necessary recommend this.
Before you contact anyone, how much do you know about anthropology, so you can form intelligent questions? The first questions that may come to mind may be answered if you look at the course lists and professor backgrounds and their research interests. There are subsets to anthro. If you did study some anthro in hs, it’s probably the tip of the iceberg, more generalized. So be careful.
Why are you reaching out? What do you hope to accomplish by doing so?
This is a busy time of year for teachers at any level. If you have legit questions, then by all means email. But “to introduce yourself” to a professor you may not have a year from now at a school you may not be accepted to may be another matter.
I agree with @bjkmom. Consider what you hope to gain from any email. Keep in mind that:
–While professors do enjoy speaking to students, their job is to teach students at the college and do original research. They may or may not have the time or inclination to entertain questions from prospective students, especially one who has not yet been accepted into the school.
–There is a great deal of general information on college websites – typically including courses offered, details on professors etc. What else do you need to know before applying? Just like with an admissions officer, do not email a question that can be answered by doing basic research on your own. Do you have enough of a background in anthropology to ask any specific meaningful questions?
–Emailing a professor will not help you in the admissions process.
So my bottom line is you certainly can email but be sure you have something worthwhile to ask and don’t be shocked if you get no reply.
As a professor, I honestly kind of resent such emails. If I’ve invited you to ask questions via an admissions event or similar, then I’m happy to respond. Otherwise I need to focus on my current students and research. And contacting me would not help your application.
Read the department webpage, look at the major requirements, peruse any news stories or events listings for the dept, look at the courses offered for the last year, possibly a Facebook page or other social media resource. My guess is that all your questions can be answered there.
I find this so interesting. I really think it depends on the college. Both my kids emailed heads of departments and or professors and set up meetings when there doing the college tours. It seemed like the professors were engaged and willing to talk to perspective students. Even at places like University of Chicago we reached out to the math department head to find out more information about careers in math while we were doing the tour. He was most welcoming, extremely engaging and even gave my son a Calculus problem (really) to show him how they teach math there. He said he wished more students would reach out. He is a well known researcher also. He was just very kind. We found that at all universities we visited. Both kids got great insight that they would not have gotten from a website. The small LAC colleges like Beloit (great small lac for Anthropology) definitely encourage this and welcome it. But even the heads/professors of departments of Michigan also welcomed it. We never heard the word no. Both kids sent a thank you note to whomever they talked with. The kids when writing their essays can put down they spoke with professor x and learned about the school /program. I think that shows maturity and that the student researched the school. That might have some minor weight in reading the admissions essays? Before I get yelled at all meetings except the one at Chicago was prearranged with the department head /professor…lol.
Why do you want to write? Why introduce yourself? That isn’t going to help with admissions.
Get a feel for their programs by reading the department webpage and any newsletters they have. Look at the faculties biographies. Look in the course catalog to see what Anthro courses they offer. You may see that this college is more cultural anthropology based or this one has a natural history museum next door or whatever. THEN, if you have any specific questions, email the department head.
Once you choose a college, it is good to get to know your professors…but do that during their office hours (time they have set aside to meet with students).
I agree, when you do a tour, that might be a good time to ask to sit in a class and then maybe meet a professor.
I’m glad my dad took the phone call from my future husband when he was calling around looking for grad schools! Dad took the time to tell DH all about UT and told him he could get a research assistant job. It was Dad’s friendliness that convinced DH to come to Austin from Wisconsin. Otherwise, I never would have met him! Dad really enjoyed talking to prospective students - he even met with a CC student when I asked him to. 
Yes! Emailing out of the blue seems weird to me. They are busy!
Agreed.
The first stop should be the department’s prospective student webpage. Most have answers to almost every conceivable question. If the ere are questions that are still unanswered, and there is a contact link, use the link. If no link, limit the contact to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (or whatever the equivalent position is at that college). and not just run through the faculty directory.
Grad school is a different game. You need to match research interests.
But I wonder what OP hopes to gain for UG. We don’t know how viable he/she is for whatever schools this would be. Most kids could better use the energy to realistically assess their match, gain experiences that make them better applicants from the get go. Blind calling may be spinning one’s wheels.
Even in the spring when acceptances are out and you’ve picked a college to attend, it seems silly to write profs in your major to introduce yourself. They’ll meet you in person when classes begin. To do it now before you even know where you’ll be accepted makes even less sense. That you have no idea what to write or anything specific you want to ask just underscores the hollowness.
Since you’ve asked for advice, here is mine: read the pages the dept puts online describing their program. Take comfort that the PhD’s at any college in the country have the depth of knowledge to adequately instruct an undergrad.