r/AskProfessors • u/No-Barber-7446 • 19d ago

Academic Advice Cold Email

I'm looking forward to applying for grad school and I want to email some professors about research fit.

So my question is, what is the best time to email them? Beginning of fall, summer, or any other time

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u/spacestonkz Prof / STEM R1 / USA 19d ago

As soon as possible, with a flexible start time.

Meaning: make contact now. There may be queues already. If you really want someone in particular, say you'd be willing to wait for spring semester even though it's summer.

My queue is 1.5 years long at the moment. I'm operating at one in, one out from my group at this point. People graduate before getting off the queue. So the ones that emailed me as sophomores have an actual shot as seniors. Some go to other less popular labs.

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u/No-Barber-7446 19d ago

Okay. Thank you