University professors emailing back?

[romsofia]

Back in February I started sending out emails to professors who were doing research, the first three reply back saying they would be in Europe and that they couldn't use me for the summer. After that I've emailed ~8 other professors (Not all at once, but I wait a week for a response) and none of those ~8 professors emailed me back. Is it normal for professors them not to email back a stranger back asking for an internship?

Thanks for your time!

P.S. I did search their research websites for the correct email address to contact them and if they are willing to let high school students intern.

 

[stevenb]

Back in February I started sending out emails to professors who were doing research, the first three reply back saying they would be in Europe and that they couldn't use me for the summer. After that I've emailed ~8 other professors (Not all at once, but I wait a week for a response) and none of those ~8 professors emailed me back. Is it normal for professors them not to email back a stranger back asking for an internship?

Thanks for your time!

P.S. I did search their research websites for the correct email address to contact them and if they are willing to let high school students intern.

It's hard to answer about what's normal without adequate statistics. Interestingly, you probably have better statistics than most. Based on your data, it seems that a quarter to a third of professors will email back and no professors will give a high school student an internship.

Not emailing back is disappointing, but most professors are busy. It's quite difficult for a high school student to get an internship with a professor since undergrad students are also interested and typically are in a better position to be useful. Professors, are even more interested in grad students (even though they have to pay them) because they are even more useful. It's possible that you are an exceptional person that could be useful, but even if so, it's not easy to get that across in a "cold call" type of email. Still it's not impossible, so don't give up. However, you will need to be tolerant of rejection and being ignored, if you keep trying.

 

[romsofia]

It's hard to answer about what's normal without adequate statistics. Interestingly, you probably have better statistics than most. Based on your data, it seems that a quarter to a third of professors will email back and no professors will give a high school student an internship.

Not emailing back is disappointing, but most professors are busy. It's quite difficult for a high school student to get an internship with a professor since undergrad students are also interested and typically are in a better position to be useful. Professors, are even more interested in grad students (even though they have to pay them) because they are even more useful. It's possible that you are an exceptional person that could be useful, but even if so, it's not easy to get that across in a "cold call" type of email. Still it's not impossible, so don't give up. However, you will need to be tolerant of rejection and being ignored, if you keep trying.

Thanks for the reply! I understand that being a high school student I will have a harder time finding an internship and will not give up :P I guess I'm just not use to teachers not replying back to emails :x

 

[eri]

Professors, not teachers. And you're not their student, so they don't have any obligation to reply. Many don't take on summer students at all, and like others have mentioned, you almost certainly would be more work than use to them (undergrads are as well). They'd be doing you a huge favor. At least they often get paid to take on undergrads. It would help if you had some kind of connection through one of your high school teachers, or if you had taken a college class in physics.

 

[nbo10]

Where are you located?

 

[romsofia]

Professors, not teachers. And you're not their student, so they don't have any obligation to reply. Many don't take on summer students at all, and like others have mentioned, you almost certainly would be more work than use to them (undergrads are as well). They'd be doing you a huge favor. At least they often get paid to take on undergrads. It would help if you had some kind of connection through one of your high school teachers, or if you had taken a college class in physics.

I'm currently taking QM 1, but I know my professor isn't doing research. So, you're suggesting that I ask him if he knows anyone that might be willing to take me on?

Where are you located?

Colorado, I've been emailing professors at CU boulder since a lot of them are partnered with JILA (that's where I found this information)

 

[eri]

Yes, you should ask your current professor. Even if he/she isn't doing research, chances are good they know people who are. QM I is a junior/senior level college class, so they'd be impressed by a high school student taking it.

 

[nbo10]

There are programs for high school students. Here is a link for the Army's program, http://www.arl.army.mil/www/default.cfm?page=526.

The problem becomes knowing about the programs.

 

[romsofia]

There are programs for high school students. Here is a link for the Army's program, http://www.arl.army.mil/www/default.cfm?page=526.

The problem becomes knowing about the programs.

Thanks for the information!

 

[Simfish]

It depends on the field (and department). The astronomy department here, for example, will practically take anyone for research (although some professors may take weeks to reply). I actually got a response rate of nearly 100% when I emailed the profs here back as a HS student.