PhD Journal Of A Ghanaian Woman in Stem

Graduate program coordinators are program-level staff employees (and sometimes faculty members!) who frequently serve as the principal point of contact for graduate students. They offer guidance on entrance standards, degree standards, university regulations and processes, university services, and financial aid options. Sending cold emails to professors could be helpful for some schools, but most schools in the US do not admit students directly into a lab. The better alternative is to reach out to the department’s designated resource person to learn more on how you can increase your chances of being accepted into the program. Hopefully, this template can guide you to write one of your own!

Email subject: Interest in [name of program] at [name of school].

Dear [program coordinator’s name],

My name is [your full name], and I am a recent graduate of [undergraduate university] where I majored in [undergraduate major]. I will be applying to the [program name] in [start term]. I have gone through the department’s website and have learned a great deal about the diverse research carried out by several faculty members.

Based on your requirements, I think I am a great fit for the program. However, I would love to meet with you to discuss what makes an applicant stand out during the review process and how I can increase my chances of being accepted into the [program name]. Also, I have a few questions related to the application. If appropriate, I will be glad to set up a zoom meeting to talk more about the [program name] and other questions I may have. Kindly find enclosed my CV.

Looking forward to your response!

Best,

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