<p>Hi all,
I will start my master's (with a thesis option) this fall in CS. When do I contact professors about becoming my advisors for potential research? I have been told by some people that I should get a head start and contact them this summer. Others have told me to wait until I have taken classes with them since they are most likely too busy to care about incoming students. I will be funded if that makes any difference. Also, I am not committed to PhD as I have only been accepted to the master's program.</p>
<p>Thank you</p>
<p>Alright. Any advice from personal experience? Did you or do you plan to contact a potential advisor before or after the beginning of the first term?</p>
<p>I’ve been sending out some emails to potential advisors whose research program interests me. I would write about 2 paragraphs- open with undergrad info, sentence about current research, mention my current interests. I then ask a question specific to their lab. I then close asking if they were looking to take on new students in the fall.</p>
<p>I’ve gotten a response from a majority (like 95%) of PIs. A few didn’t come through but I account that to being the end of the year workload that may have pushed off my email.</p>