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Independent study

 
Old 05-02-2013 at 12:19 PM   #1
dkqjwl
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Independent study
Is there any website that lists name of the profs that are looking for the students for independent study?
I sent about 30 emails and I still haven't found my supervisor.
I know it is a little late at this point to find one for next year, but I am still hoping there will be someone..
I am most interested in neurosci/bio/biochem, etc (any life sciences)

Thanks in advance
Old 05-02-2013 at 12:54 PM   #2
Freak705
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Drop by their offices, ask politely if they have time to talk to you. Explain your situation. Don't send emails that are unprofessional, like:

"hi i just finshed 1st year i need a lab to work in, can i work for u?"

A lot of the time, email is notoriously bad for communicating with professors.... I sent emails to my thesis supervisors again and again the past 4 months while I was working in Toronto and I didn't get a single reply - turns out his email inbox was overflowing/full and he had never read any of them. Even when they are really on top of their messages, they get so many messages it's impossible to read them all, and unfortunately, random emails from undergraduates they've never heard of aren't worth their time to read.
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Old 05-02-2013 at 04:27 PM   #3
RyanC
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Study for what? Despite being desperate, you should really narrow down what you want to do. It really helps your case if you're direct about what you want, and not just being one of the thousands of undergrads who are begging for anything.. even saying neurosci isn't all that specific.
What sort of people have you been emailing and what did your email consist of? (curious)

It's such a generation Y characteristic to think that way anyhow.. you should have spent your year establishing relationships with your profs and TAs. Being a random makes it soooooooooo difficult to even get a volunteer position, never mind volunteer/internship research studies or even paid. On top of that you're searching *after* exams? When the largest number of randoms are begining their search anyways?

Getting stuff is all about networking and knowing people, it's a very poor tactic to do otherwise (there are successes though with that method occasionally). I'm not saying its too late for you, but consider how you spend your time; would it be a better idea to get a regular job and adding to your resume? Regardless of what you end up doing, do something, such as volunteer.
(random advice, not necessarily directed at you)

*shakes head*



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