About to start emailing profs to ask if they're accepting grad students in their lab next year. Any common mistakes I should avoid? Do I attach a CV? Am I putting way too much anxiety on a simple email? Don't answer the last one, I know it's yes. #AcademicTwitter #PhDchat
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To answer this question in my case, in my field students always do rotations their first year. You’re not directly admitted to a single lab. Thus I want to make sure some interesting PIs plan to take rotation students next year before I apply to that school.
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Sometimes the professor doesn't have the grant funding to support a grad student and while they would want to have a grad student, they would not be able to accept them without the grad student bringing their own funding (e.g. through a fellowship).
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Yeah, but wouldn't you ask if they would take you as opposed to generally?
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I haven't thought about it that way. I guess I always just assumed that was implied.
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I'm confused if it's implied why OP isn't sure of including her CV. Not blaming her for asking but you can see given the context and the fact she needs to ask, it's adding to my confusion.
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In the US you have to do rotations for your first year. So it’s a good idea to make sure a school has several possible PIs you’re interested before applying. You aren’t directly admitted to a single lab.
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This is making so much sense now. Thank you!
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Afaik, at most schools in the US, applications are first reviewed by a committee in a first round before considered by PIs
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So students could be denied entry on their gpa, gre, essays
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Why email the PI then?
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Because if you want to work with them but they’re not accepting students, you may get accepted to the program and wind up having to work with somebody else
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Why not ask if they would accept you though over just asking generally? Seem questions here, please.https://twitter.com/o_guest/status/1039475966043672576?s=19 …
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*seem = see my

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Haha I’m stumped! I agree that I think it’s implied, but also...I can’t think of anyone not accepting someone into their lab who has passed the department application review and who shares interest...
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Thanks though. I think I'm understanding a little.
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I think this is just a difference in communication style. May be considered more polite to be less direct. It would be where I come from.
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But then even including a CV is blunt?
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I'm no expert, but would probably wait for a positive answer before doing so. But of course such things differ from place to place.
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Maya's explained it enough for me that it's about rotations and such. But I take your point too. Thanks.
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