Will Professors ever tell you to NOT apply?
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:41 am
Hi Everyone,
I really wanted to gauge if a school is a good fit for me, so I decided that I would email profs and sort of ask them if they recommend I should apply or not because My gpa/pgre are mediocre. I've seen a bunch of threads on here about "Suck Mails" : http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1700 and one of the posters did exactly what I mentioned above.
For the first prof at University X I basically said I am interested in applying here for theory, this is my research experience, but these are my stats ( pgre score etc), do you recommend that I apply here? Prof replied back and basically said that I should definitely apply.
Second prof was easier to email ( LOR writer), but I sort of regret emailing. I did research with this prof at University Y***, which is well known and competitive. I have had email conversations with this prof since forever, and this prof obviously knows me very well (seriously really well). I asked if this prof recommends that I reapply there, I mentioned that I enjoyed working with them, and really enjoyed my overall experience at the university. However, now I feel i put my writer in an awkward situation and I wish I could take it back. What should I do in this case? The prof was very happy with my research work, but still my stats are just not competitive enough :/
When I email professors in the future, should I email at least two at the same institution? Also, I am very realistic. Positive replies does not guarantee admission. However, at least someone thinks you are capable haha =)
*** I have applied to this University before and was rejected the first time. This is my second time applying to grad school. No point in applying again I guess?
I didn't want to make a new thread, but I really have one more question. I have noticed some people have applied for a broad range of subfields. I did not the first time ( i only applied for hep-th), but I am considering applying for CME/HEP-ex now too. Both of my LOR writers, whom I did research with, are particle theorist. I brought this up with them, but they haven't given me any opinion. However, they did address the initial list of schools I had because one of them was not strong in particle theory at all. IDK why, but I feel like I might have upset them? I am still interested in particle theory, but I also want to get into grad school. However, did I make my profs think like I am not interested anymore or something like that?
I really wanted to gauge if a school is a good fit for me, so I decided that I would email profs and sort of ask them if they recommend I should apply or not because My gpa/pgre are mediocre. I've seen a bunch of threads on here about "Suck Mails" : http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1700 and one of the posters did exactly what I mentioned above.
For the first prof at University X I basically said I am interested in applying here for theory, this is my research experience, but these are my stats ( pgre score etc), do you recommend that I apply here? Prof replied back and basically said that I should definitely apply.
Second prof was easier to email ( LOR writer), but I sort of regret emailing. I did research with this prof at University Y***, which is well known and competitive. I have had email conversations with this prof since forever, and this prof obviously knows me very well (seriously really well). I asked if this prof recommends that I reapply there, I mentioned that I enjoyed working with them, and really enjoyed my overall experience at the university. However, now I feel i put my writer in an awkward situation and I wish I could take it back. What should I do in this case? The prof was very happy with my research work, but still my stats are just not competitive enough :/
When I email professors in the future, should I email at least two at the same institution? Also, I am very realistic. Positive replies does not guarantee admission. However, at least someone thinks you are capable haha =)
*** I have applied to this University before and was rejected the first time. This is my second time applying to grad school. No point in applying again I guess?
I didn't want to make a new thread, but I really have one more question. I have noticed some people have applied for a broad range of subfields. I did not the first time ( i only applied for hep-th), but I am considering applying for CME/HEP-ex now too. Both of my LOR writers, whom I did research with, are particle theorist. I brought this up with them, but they haven't given me any opinion. However, they did address the initial list of schools I had because one of them was not strong in particle theory at all. IDK why, but I feel like I might have upset them? I am still interested in particle theory, but I also want to get into grad school. However, did I make my profs think like I am not interested anymore or something like that?