Hello, I’m an international student planning to apply for graduate schools in the US. I’ve been advised by alumni to reach out to certain professors and even use their names as a reference. However, I’m unsure about what else to include in my communication or how to appropriately address them, which makes me quite nervous about initiating contact.
First, research about the professor whose subject interests you the most. Make sure your qualifications are impressive even before you join the school. Pick a professor whose work you admire and learn a bit about what they do.
Introduce yourself briefly and talk about your background. Explain why their work made you want to reach out to them. Mention your reasons for contacting them, and talk about your own project or how you know the particular alumnus.
Professors want to see that you can add value to their research. So, mention your skills or qualities that you think can help their work. Then, say that you were advised by [Alumni’s Name], who spoke highly of the professor’s work and mentorship. Finally, thank them and express your interest in meeting them in person.