{"id":21708,"date":"2022-08-24T23:04:25","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T23:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/?p=21708"},"modified":"2023-12-20T06:29:42","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T06:29:42","slug":"cold-email-academic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gmass.co\/blog\/cold-email-academic\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold Email Goes to College: How the Academic World Uses Cold Outreach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cold email isn\u2019t just a part of the business world anymore \u2014 cold email has packed up its acoustic guitar and Pulp Fiction<\/em> poster and headed off to college.<\/p>\n

Over the past few years there\u2019s been a significant rise in cold email’s popularity in the academic world<\/strong>. From students to professors, administrators to department offices, alumni organizations to clubs, cold email is now a widely-used tool across the entire college and university gamut.<\/p>\n

Here at GMass we\u2019ve studied the trends<\/strong>, pored over Twitter<\/strong>, and spoken with more than a dozen people in academia<\/strong> to learn how they\u2019re using cold email to accomplish their (wide variety of) goals faster and more efficiently.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the academic world is using cold outreach today.<\/p>\n

Cold Email in Academia: Table of Contents<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • How College and University Students Are Using Cold Email<\/a><\/li>\n
  • How Clubs and Organizations Are Using Cold Email<\/a><\/li>\n
  • How College Administrators Are Using Cold Email<\/a><\/li>\n
  • How College Academic Departments Are Using Cold Email<\/a><\/li>\n
  • How College Professors, Researchers, and Faculty Are Using Cold Email<\/a><\/li>\n
  • Why GMass Is an Excellent Tool for Cold Outreach in the Academic World<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    How College and University Students Are Using Cold Email<\/h2>\n

    Perhaps no college cohort uses cold email more than students<\/strong>. Here are some of the most common ways students, from freshmen through Ph.D.s, are using cold outreach.<\/p>\n

    Want an even more in-depth look at cold emailing for college and university students, including cold email templates? Check out our guide on how to email a professor<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Joining research groups and labs<\/h3>\n

    There\u2019s a question we see a lot on social media: How do I contact a professor about joining their group\/lab?<\/strong> And the first answer they always receive is cold email. A well-crafted cold email (as we\u2019ll discuss in the best practices section) can help you get your foot in the door and, ultimately, have a real shot at landing a coveted research group or lab spot.<\/p>\n

    Best practices<\/h4>\n

    Know specifics about the lab group\u2019s interests before you reach out.<\/strong> You need to make it clear you fully understand what the group is doing and why you\u2019d be a valuable contributor.<\/p>\n

    Even if you don\u2019t have practical experience, a mix of deep academic curiosity and other traits like perseverance and dedication can close the gap.<\/p>\n

    Chelsea Dunmire<\/a>, a research scientist at the University of Washington\u2019s School of Medicine, says most labs wouldn\u2019t expect prior experience from younger students. So she looks for cold emails where students show experience in other\u00a0<\/em>areas, \u201cthat shows you\u2019re reliable, you can make a long-term commitment, and you\u2019re eager to learn new things.”<\/p>\n

    Keep it short.<\/strong> Dr. Monica Malta, a professor in the psychiatry department at the University of Toronto, receives lots of cold emails and, \u201cshort emails are more likely to be read than longer ones, especially if it comes from someone we don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Still, even though you\u2019re keeping it short, don\u2019t neglect the fundamentals of outreach. \u201cFinish with something nice,\u201d Dr. Malta says, \u201cLike, \u2019Thank you so much for your time.\u2019\u00a0\u2026 And, if it\u2019s appropriate, mention that you understand their schedule is busy, assuring that they can reply when they have time.”<\/p>\n

    Advice and mentorship<\/h3>\n

    Undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students face lots of significant (and quite possibly life-altering) decisions throughout their time in school. There are lots of great minds out there at their school and other schools who can offer sagacious, actionable advice<\/strong> \u2014 but getting in touch with those people and building a rapport can be challenging.<\/p>\n

    Cold email has become a go-to method for students reaching out to educators, grad students, and alumni to develop a relationship and receive mentorship throughout their time in school.<\/p>\n

    All of that is also true for students looking for thesis and Ph.D. advisors. A personalized cold email to a professor can cut through quite a bit of the advisor-finding slog.<\/p>\n

    Best practices<\/h4>\n

    Make sure the email is highly personalized<\/strong> (and mentioning a quick fact off the professor\u2019s website bio isn\u2019t enough). Dig into the person\u2019s work, read what they\u2019ve published, and cite\u00a0that<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    Dr. Malta has worked with great people who reached out cold. \u201cYou need to do your research,\u201d she says, \u201cDon\u2019t start like, \u2018Dear Professor,\u2019 it gives the impression you\u2019re sending the exact same email to lots of professors. [The best cold applicants] knew what I was working on\u2026 by following me on Twitter<\/a> where I\u2019m quite active.”<\/p>\n

    Muneer Yaqub, a Ph.D. candidate in molecular and cell biology at the University of Texas at Dallas (who regularly tweets<\/a> and makes videos<\/a> about cold email for students), also highly recommends citing a professor\u2019s work in an outreach message. \u201cAcademics get excited a lot about people citing their publications,\u201d he says, \u201cI find this the most effective way to get their attention while cold emailing them for graduate mentorship.”<\/p>\n

    Try the vision\/framing\/weakness\/pedestal\/ask email structure<\/strong> (also known as Very Few Wizards Properly Ask<\/a>, because mnemonics have taken a bizarre turn in modern times). In a V\/F\/W\/P\/A email, you\u2019re using five paragraphs of 1-2 sentences:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Vision:<\/strong> Who you are and what you\u2019re hoping to accomplish.<\/li>\n
    • Framing:<\/strong> What stage you\u2019re at.<\/li>\n
    • Weakness:<\/strong> Where you\u2019re currently falling short.<\/li>\n
    • Pedestal:<\/strong> Show the person you\u2019re reaching out to how they are the only one who can help thanks to their expertise.<\/li>\n
    • Ask:<\/strong> Make your request.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Job and internship hunting<\/h3>\n

      There are tons of companies recruiting on college campuses \u2014 but some students instead opt for the more proactive approach<\/strong>. We’ve seen lots of students cold emailing companies about potential roles. And with the right approach, those students can stand out more than their peers to land the internships and jobs they\u2019re after.<\/p>\n

      Best practices<\/h4>\n

      Research the company and be specific why you want to work there.\u00a0<\/strong>A generic cold email for a job or internship will, at best, get a generic cold response: A link to an online application.<\/p>\n

      But an email from someone passionate about working at a company \u2014 someone who demonstrates a deep understanding of the company and how they\u2019d be a good fit \u2014 can earn special attention and consideration.<\/p>\n

      Play up your college connection (without making that the focus of the entire email).\u00a0<\/strong>It\u2019s always good to reach out to alumni at a company \u2014 even if they aren\u2019t the one doing the hiring, they will often help steer you toward the right person thanks to your shared background.<\/p>\n

      While you don\u2019t want to make the entire<\/em> email about your college (it needs to also be about you and why you want to work at that company), citing your school is a great way to make the cold email \u201cwarmer.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n

      My favorite thing about UNC is that you can throw in \u201cgo heels!\u201d to any cold email and alumni will go out of their way for you. 1) bc they understand the pain you\u2019ve suffered through 2) bc they want to relive their glory days.<\/p>\n

      \u2014 T\u00fa Uy\u00ean (Valerie) Nguy\u1ec5n (@valerieunguyen) April 16, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n