<p>Just received a response from a grad school prof. Basically, I wrote him an email saying I was interested in a specific area of his research interests and asking if he has any positions available for grad school for the Fall of 2014. He's one of the very few professors in the US that does research in this area.</p>
<p>His response was (paraphrased a little):
Thank you for the email. I do not currently have openings for students in this interest area, but could change if funding improves. If you're interested in waiting it out, you should think of applying. The apps are due on .....</p>
<p>What does this sound like to you guys?
He is quite famous in his field so I don't entirely buy the "funding" thing, but the area I am interested in is a small, but expanding area. So in that sense I can see there being limited funding.
It seems like he wants to find out more about me before mentioning possible openings, but why didn't he say/ask so directly? </p>
<p>The research area is an area I am very interested in and he is literally the only prof that does research in this area. I will most likely apply, but if what he said in his email sounds like he's not interested, then I don't want to waste application money.</p>
<p>Oh and he currently has 2 grad students working in that field.</p>
<p>Someone may be famous, but that doesn’t mean that they will have money thrown at them left and right. Even if that were the case, he only has so much time to devote to the research that that money was destined for, and to the 2 grad students (and possibly, several undergraduate students) and their projects.</p>
<p>He didn’t ask directly about finding out more about you because he doesn’t want to deal with your life story unless you’re a serious applicant – in which case, he can glean what he needs to know from your application.</p>
<p>Overall, it sounds like an appropriately non-committal response; no need to over-analyze it. Now, it’s up to you to decide if you want to apply!</p>
<p>I work for someone that’s the leader in his field, and generally gives the keynote speech for any symposium on our topic he goes to. We used to have multi-million dollar DARPA grants. For the last six years, or so, our group has been poor since he just doesn’t have the patience to deal with all of the government bureaucracy that comes with their grants. Our lab also has a start up company, so a lot of his time is spent on that instead of trying to bring in more money for more students.</p>
<p>Edit: Heck, I know of professors that are quite famous in their field that are flush with cash that still only want students that can bring in their own funding through external fellowships.</p>
<p>I used to work in a graduate department and handled admissions. I would interpret this email as meaning one of three things. </p>
<ol>
<li>I have X number of funded slots but they’re all filled with current graduate students.</li>
<li>I have funds available, but only to study A and it’s clear you are more focussed on B.
or possibly</li>
<li>I have a slot or two open and while I see you as an appropriate addition to my group I have other students on my radar about which I’m more excited.</li>
</ol>
<p>In any case it doesn’t hurt to apply. It may be that a new grant comes through and frees up a lot of money for new students. The department may also decide that your application is attractive enough that they’d be willing to spend general student support funds on you.</p>
<p>^I agree with Sue. There is possibility here, but not definites. But there are no definites in graduate admissions, so you should apply ad see what happens.</p>