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
-
-
Replying to @AlzScience
I'm not from the USA, I'm a Cypriot academic in the UK, so please bear this in mind but I'm really confused by this. I understand emailing but why ask if accepting? Why not just ask if they would want you? I think I'm missing something deep about US academia.
7 replies 1 retweet 2 likes -
Replying to @o_guest @AlzScience
General American constraint against bluntness, IMO. To me the request to find out in advance if they'll accept me feels like a big ‘ask’ ("Can you tell me in advance, outside the usual system everyone else uses, if you’ll accept me?") And practically, it requires more work...
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
... and thus lowers the chance they'll respond. I'd say YES attach a CV and use the
@ProfessorIsIn template. As with most things, no response is zero info (most likely explanation is a busy prof), but possible upside of an enthusiastic or at least informative response.2 replies 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @melissaekline @o_guest and
Complicating fact is that the usual mega positive American 'I bet you're GREAT' is iffy bc then what if you decide later not to accept them? We use the generic positivity to smooth interactions, but IMO do sometimes avoid it when it would have a downside for the listener.
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
I see. So this is more a coping mechanism to avoid being seen as rude in your opinion? May I ask if there's a gendered component in your opinion? It feels a little like it given the slight difference in responses I've received here. But I might be wrong as Twitter is strange.
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Oh totally! I am personally uncomfortable coming off as making a demand...but also, I suspect that as a student, I might not have come off as well making it as my same email from a male name :/
1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
Yes, thank you. That makes a lot of sense and is helping me understand. 

Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.