Oct 28 2008
Grad School Advice: Initial Networking
On the one hand (and unfortunately for the unassertive) networking is the KEY to success at all stages of the grad school path. On the other hand, there is a danger in taking it too far, especially when you are first thrusting your foot into the proverbial door. Today’s post offers some simple suggestions about accomplishing the former while avoiding the latter.
People will tell you to network, network, network and will claim that professors are open to talking during their office hours. This is only partly true. It’s a great idea to make contact with professors when you’re trying to get into their school or if you’ve been accepted and want them to be your thesis or dissertation advisor someday. But especially at a large university professors don’t want to take the time to “just chat” with someone they have never met. Some of my more proactive friends went to meet with professors without a definite agenda in mind (other than you’re-important-in-my-field-and-I-want-you-to-know-and-like-me) and found themselves in very awkward conversations. So DO talk to profs, but only if you can come up with something specific to ask them that will make the meeting feel productive and pleasant for both of you. Good times to meet with them are:
(1) During prospective student weekends. I know of at least one waitlisted student who got into the PhD program largely because she had a great conversation with a prof in her field who also happened to be on the admissions committee. Visiting weekends can be highly stressful and are full of posturing people but they can also be indispensable in deciding whether you want to enroll in a program, and, in some cases, in convincing the program that they want you as well.
(2) When you want to know more about a course that they will be teaching. Ask about the focus, the requirements, the reading list. Professors like to talk about their own courses and it helps to know what you’re in for if you sign up for the class. As a bonus you can also use this tactic if you just want to make sure that you get into a popular course or if you just want a way to start a conversation about your related interests. You can use a modified version of this when you are still in the application process by asking what kind of courses in your field are likely to be running in the future or other questions about their segment of the program.
(3) When you are in their course and have a paper coming up. Go in with several potential topics or even just questions about the paper. This discussion will almost always help your grade on the paper itself since you will have a better idea of their expectations and will have demonstrated intiative and commitment to the project. Additionally, such discussions worked to my advantage first semester when I was shy about participating in classes outside of my field but very willing to talk one-on-one about the aspects that interested me.
So, go, go forth! Be prepared, sound smart, act polite. Find the appropriate opportunities and network your introverted, bibliophile butt off.
Good luck!
