Gentle notes for interested students:

1. Please do not send word files with your email. Nowadays you can easily convert word files to PDF files. Most likely the receiver (me or other faculties you are trying to contact) will not even open the files if they are not in PDF.

2. Please do write a brief email body to introduce yourself. If you just throw several files into an email and send it to me. It will directly go to the email bin and stay there for 30 days before being automatically deleted.

3. Please get the correct name. I’ve received emails addressed to other people more frequently than I expected. If you don’t even bother to check the receiver’s name, how can you expect that the receiver will bother to read your email?

4. I apologize for not being able to respond to every email. I tried, at least at first. Then I was just overwhelmed by the incoming emails every day. If you don’t hear back from me for over 1 week and you are actually really interested in joining my team, it is OK to send me a reminder email to follow up.

I put these notes here not to complain about anyone. Instead, I understand how stressful it is to apply for a PhD. I just hope these notes could help you avoid wasting your time, regardless of whom you are trying to contact. And finally, best luck and wish you find a place that is a perfect fit. 🙂