<p>well.
One replied yesterday and one replied this morning.
They are both very enthusiastic about having me in their lab
they went to meet with me to discuss their research and my interests.
Both are from same university- one is bio, one is chem.
one has even picked out a date for us to meet on campus.</p>
<p>what do i do??
i mean, if i just reply and say --" i have another prof who also would like to be my mentor...i think i want to VISIT BOTH OF YOUR LABS AND CHOOSE"....???
that sounds SO impolite doesn't it? i mean, it's like they will know i e-mailed a bunch all at once and that i am not truly truly iN LOVE with their own lab like i seriously said in the e-mail i sent to each of them!!!!!</p>
<p>Thank You… I have not finalized my plans for the upcoming summer and would love to meet with you to discuss possible opportunities on… Thank you again.</p>
<p>but the thing is, when i initially sent around messages to profs i stated that i would be more than happy to intern at their labs and stuff-- i think i must have sounded like it was 100% sure that i will work with them if they agree.</p>
<p>well, what else are you going to do?
I would think they <em>might</em> know that you contacted more than one professor. And if they don’t, well you have to let them know that you aren’t 100% going to work there. </p>
<p>ahhhhhhhhhh…(deep sigh)
i shouldn’t have made my e-mails sound so deep…=[
i am going to try to write an e-mail saying that i will meet with him but i also plan on visiting another prof who was also willing to serve as mentor and that i will let him know what my final decision is as soon as i can.</p>
<p>i’m not going to send out any more e-mails after this lol =[</p>
<p>honestly, I don’t think that is the best way to phrase it. I really liked how ncmentor put it. You don’t want to make it sound like your choosing the “better” lab.</p>
<p>yeah…i really liked how ncmentor put it as well…
But the problem with it for me is that
in the e-mail i first sent out to them i said that i would love to be in their lab/ their research fascinates me…and made it sound so sure that i will be there if they accept me as an intern…=[
so if i put it as ncmentor says, i will sound like i almost lied in the first e-mail…, right?
that is why i am stuck…</p>
<p>heyy- after, i decide on one professor, what do i say to the other one? thanks but…i preferred the other lab? (jk jk lol i won’t really say that =])</p>
<p>You may want to purchase the book “How To Say It” by: Rosalie Maggio. I’ve used it off and on for many years and it’s an excellent think before you act resource that not only gives you examples of well crafted example letters but gently reminds you to say what you mean in the first place. </p>
<p>I know this is “New To You” but trust me it’s not new to your professor. It may make them frustrated and remind them of some of the pitfalls of dealing with the young and learning, but it’s not new. So use this as a learning experience and resolve to be clear in your communications. </p>
<p>Taking this too seriously is just making your choice seem more important than it is. You may be wanted and of value in a lab but trust me you are very replaceable. You are young and you are going to make mistakes and everyone over the age of (you + 5 years) knows this. Don’t take yourself too seriously and learn from both your successes and your mistakes. </p>
<p>As far as what to say to the other professor after you decide - Once again your jumping the gun and making yourself more important than you are. So respond to the offers with the “Thank You… I have not finalized my plans for the upcoming summer and”, that way the final thank you but note won’t be a big surprise…</p>
<p>Ah, thanks so much ncmentor
Yesterday, I actually wrote to the professor the way you suggested before
and he replied by saying that if anything changes, make sure I don’t hesitate to contact him again. He’s a great guy I think!</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice! I think I was too worried about trying to be polite and respectful to the professors and I didn’t want to seem like such a teenager lol =]</p>
<p>Would you please PM me the e-mails you sent to those professors? I just want to get a good idea of the general format to use when contacting professors for the possibility of being their research assistant. </p>
<p>^^ haha almafuerte I was that way too last year. I had my mom read over every email I sent out, to make sure it wasn’t accidentally offensive in any way. at least until she got tired of it haha…</p>
<p>i know i know!! i started to get all paranoid and then i ended up making my e-mail like a formal essay lol!!!
it’s all a good experience/memory now =]</p>
<p>hey do all professors not check their emails on the weekends or something? I e-mailed back the other professor (that i chose) on the date i want to meet with him but no reply today…
…gosh, see how paranoid i am becoming? lol</p>
<p>“hey do all professors not check their emails on the weekends or something?”</p>
<p>LOL… Ya and some even prioritize their families and disconnect from the grid when on vacation. I know hard to believe… “It will all work out in the end - If it hasn’t all worked out, it’s not the end”… Hang in</p>