Preparing The Application Guidelines For Applying The Competitive Application Tips On Structuring The Research Statement Tips For Approaching Columbia Faculty Financing Graduate Education Fee Waiver

Your communication with faculty should be very focused. Bear in mind that professors are busy and you do not want to place the burden on them to facilitate a discussion.

In general, do not ask a faculty member any question for which an answer can be found by doing research on your own (i.e. do not ask for information about the professor’s past or current research until you have thoroughly exhausted other means of obtaining this information). Also, do not ask a professor questions related to admissions procedures or preparation. These answers can almost always be found by thoroughly familiarizing yourself with the admissions and department/program websites. If you are not able to find answers via the web, call the admissions office before appealing to the department for information. Graduate programs are looking for resourceful, independent and focused students who know how to obtain a great variety of information; failing to exhibit basic research skills in the admissions process could compromise the success of your application.

Consider introducing yourself briefly in an email that does not require a response. For example, write a 2-3 sentence introduction stating your status as a prospective student, indicating your undergraduate institution, and specifying your research interest.

If you plan to extend the discussion further, or include an inquiry, you need to know exactly what you want to talk about. Bear in mind that a vague or noncommittal explanation of your interests will probably get you no response and could keep you from being considered as a serious candidate. State, in a succinct sentence or two, how your interests and past research in your field match up with specific research undertaken by the professor or researcher you are contacting. Do you have a specific question about the professor’s research? If so, be very clear about what you are asking. Avoid open-ended questions that force him/her to produce elaborate or personal responses. Unless asked, also shy away from talking too much about your own research, except to mention how it has informed your curiosity about his/hers.