identifying potential mentors

 

So the next step after creating your school list, and I think hands down THE most important part of this entire process, is networking with professors that you would want to work with at those schools. 

All you really need is just a good connection/conversation with ONE professor at the program (and of course more is good too, but not necessary at all). Ideally this would happen before you apply to the program, because then you can talk about that conversation in your personal statement. And that professor will remember you when they see your application come through and they will then advocate for you to get in, as these professors are the ones who ultimately do have the power of deciding who gets into the program or not. 

So I started by just literally doing a simple Google search of something like:

"UCLA public health tobacco professor"

And I would read the first couple of results and profiles that came up, and as long as they did some form of tobacco related research, they made my list. Of course if they did adolescent health specific tobacco research, they were at the top of my list to contact. But I started with just contacting one professor at each program. 

And I would recommend doing this as early as possible. Like this should literally be the first thing you do in your application process as soon as you have decided that you will be applying that cycle, ideally in September (and no later than early October). This is because professors can get very busy, or may want to schedule your call for later in the fall, and you want to catch them early to avoid them telling you they are too busy to talk. You will also have the benefit of potentially connecting with them before other students do - sadly this is somewhat of a competition sometimes. That said - I did email a few professors in late October/early November and they were very willing to talk to me, so it just really depends. But I always like to err on the side of earlier rather than later (the early bird does truly get the worm sometimes!)

I know cold emailing professors can feel daunting sometimes, and it especially did for me coming from an undergrad like UC Berkeley where we literally got zero contact and personal time with our professors. But I've realized at the graduate level, professors will respond to your emails, especially if they are written efficiently. Again, I don't like to brag, but I will say that I do think I am the "Queen of Cold Emailing." I don't know if it's my former sales/recruiting background, but I know how to Jedi mind trick people via email to get them to respond the way I want! 

So here is an example of a networking email that I sent prior to applying to PhDs:

SUBJECT: Yale MPH Student - Prospective PhD Applicant

Dear Professor ______,

 

My name is Jessica Liu and I am a 2nd year Masters in Public Health student at Yale School of Public Health in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department. I am currently applying for PhD programs for Fall 2019 admission, and seeking potential advisors.

 

I came across your profile and I believe our research interests align very closely. I am particularly interested in your work with _____. My research interests revolve around young adult health, prevention education, and risk behavior. This past summer, I worked with Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher (hyperlink) at Stanford, working on her Tobacco Prevention Toolkit (hyperlink), utilizing this research for my masters thesis.  

 

I would like to schedule a quick phone call to discuss your research more in depth, prospective funding,  and fit in your research lab/group. Please let me know your availability in the next two weeks.  My CV is attached for your reference. 

 

Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to connecting with you soon. 

 

Best,

Jessica Liu

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I would say with this email template, every professor I emailed responded and scheduled a time to talk with me, except for the professors at UC Berkeley (which is why I didn't apply there - shame on my alma mater!) I've also shared this email template with many friends and they have had success with it too.