Dear all,
Greetings!!
I want to write a letter to a foreign University's professor stating I'm interested to pursue master degree in his guidance?
Thanks in advance!!
Reaching out to professors is very important when considering graduate school. I once heard a professor say he rarely respond to such emails except to a few. I understand now, most professors are very busy and a sloppy email is equivalent to spam mail.
Therefore, before you send your email you might want to do the following:
Reaching out to professors is very important when considering graduate school. I once heard a professor say he rarely respond to such emails except to a few. I understand now, most professors are very busy and a sloppy email is equivalent to spam mail.
Therefore, before you send your email you might want to do the following:
Edmomd is on the right track here. Faculty does not have the time to read your full proposal and Master degrees are pretty much "set" so either you apply or not.
MRes are different, in essence a Mini-PhD so a one page executive summary of your research (in practice a few sentences) will fit nicely in a professional letter. Think job application and you will know what I mean. Edmond summed it up perfectly so not much to add.
Keep it to one page total, it will increase the likeliness of reply and success.
Best
Roland
Hello Bhuvana - LIke Roland, I think that Edmond has offered some excellent and succinct advice.
Combining the essence of Edmond's Points 1 and 4, I would say, 'Do your homework' on the specific projects and research that you are interested in AND tell a story about this. How might your CV to date, research undertaken, and skill-set make for an interesting 'fit' with the Professor's work.
As well as getting the language and accuracy of your approach right (Edmond's points 2 and 3) also think about the tone. Respectful and informed but not grovelling or too deferential; enthusiastic and purposeful but not over-confident or boastful.
Best wishes.
Peter
In general I'd say:
Don't think too much. Keep it short and simple.
Be polite.
State your interest. Give a reason.
Ask for help/advice/suggestions...
I agree about groveling. There is nothing worse than being told what a wonderful university you work at or how important your research as. As stated before, simply show that you can contribute something. Also, be careful if you really are asking for money. Few professors have money and whatever money there is would probably go to students already enrolled. If you are applying, for example, in the US to a program that offers PHds, you may be at the end of the line. When I was a grad student, such a letter would be better addressed to the admissions office. If you are sincere, you can make contact with the professor after you are accepted. Make sure your letter doesn't sound like it's being sent to many other professors (I have received letters with all these qualities)
That's really a nice question. People always get confuse before sending email to a professor for research supervision. In fact, writing email is very easy if you follow proper guidelines and try to demonstrate that you are a well qualified person for professor's research group. I am sharing two links,
1. How to Email a Professor for PhD and MS Scholarships https://www.studycatch.com/2019/05/how-to-email-a-professor/
2. Are You Going to Email a Professor for Scholarship? Read These 10 Points
https://www.studycatch.com/2019/06/email-a-professor-10-points/
These articles are worth reading and very helpful.
One thing I noticed in a letter I received was "your university," which made it sound like a form letter. It made me reread the email and I realized that there was nothing that make it unique. Adapt the letter to sound like your are addressing a real person.
So far I know, I have followed above all points for convincing a professor for postdoc several times. If I am not wrong, 99% replies were zero (no answer) and from 1% they said sorry. In this case, if anybody knows the ultimate answer please give me. I am trying a postdoc for 15 years on wildlife/poultry, I am most senior on it. Maybe I am ill-fated. These efforts have made me now 44 years age.
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