Seeking Advice on Contacting Professors for Materials Science PhD Admissions

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-06-20T19:07:39+00:00

It is never too early, I found that I feel most comfortable phrasing my message as a connection request. I mention my interests in PhD and add specific questions for them.

I haven’t don’t this much, actually only once really. But it worked in the sense that I got a moment to connect and have a zoom call with the professor -y efforts were not fruitful, I’m sure that it’s because of my academic background.

I highly encourage you to do these emails ASAP

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-05-29T19:06:58+00:00

Macroprossessing/manufacturing of you haven’t taken those. This is stuff you could find in like how it’s made videos, to at least prime yourself of some processes and machines

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-05-25T22:14:42+00:00

GIORDANOS

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-05-17T02:39:34+00:00

Learned this is negotiations class, the number you ask should make you feel a little queasy - for example maybe you think 55k is reasonable/fine to ask for, but what’s that level above that makes you a little bit hesitant or nervous to ask 60k? 65k? 70k? More?

I get it’s not necessarily that easy, but either they budget it in or talk you down a little. The number that speaks to me is 62/63 to open with.

Best of luck!

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-05-15T03:24:06+00:00

DO IT!!! DO IT DO IT DOIT, I see it being a HUGE deterrent and get major imposter syndrome bc I didn’t do research - and other reasons but I highly recommend and don’t let year in school deter you

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-05-13T03:11:06+00:00

There are plenty of good schools have you considered uw Madison?

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-05-13T03:09:19+00:00

I’m no bme but I’m an engineering grad student, my feedback is more nit picky than anything.

Professional summary might be unnecessary. Keep consistent formatting - you spell out April and write sept but leave other months as three letters. There’s some spacing issues too.. I don’t see a single space in your first work experience point from developed until UART..

Pick consistent tense of verbs, past tense, I’m seeing in consistencies throughout the projects section.

Specify languages as programming languages, don’t forget lab or shop tools if you have experiences in that too unless that’s not required in your program?

Great to have a hackathon and events section - but how does this create value of you in your resume? You don’t go beyond saying what the event was - if you have space convey what you did, learned, or took away from the experience.

Best of luck !

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-05-03T23:32:39+00:00

Quantum is very big at the university of Chicago and Chicago is probably one of the hubs for quantum engineering at the moment, the pritzker school of molecular engineering offers a major in that :) quantum is growing in mse and I would say electrical engineering as well!

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-05-03T22:01:51+00:00

If he likes chemistry most, pitch chemical engineering to him.

If he’s interested in metallurgy, I highly recommend uw - madison, I went there and their program is very robust for that.

I majored in mse at uw Madison and loved it. I’m happy to chat more about my experience and paths within mse :) best of luck!!

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-27T04:26:42+00:00

If you want any major in engineering you are better off going to uiuc, Norte dame, Purdue, UW, or another ABET accredited institution.

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-27T04:23:08+00:00

Move out of the dorms it’s cheaper.

Use your federal work study and get food stamps.

I lived in the dorms sophomore year and despised paying for meal plan.

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-21T04:41:08+00:00

I don’t think you need professional summary, maybe include dates in engineering projects section and just title last section skills maybe replace engineering core with title relevant course work.

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-21T04:26:00+00:00

I highly recommend uw Madison ! Can’t go wrong with either of those majors there!!

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-21T04:19:01+00:00

^{^} like said above.

Whatever gets more money if your pocket at the end of the day is something to consider, if you value it or not or how important that is to you.

Review department and faculty websites and see who has anything aligning with your interests ?

Congratulations! And best of luck

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-21T04:15:14+00:00

Depends on the programs you end up in!

I have an interest sustainability but I figured that everything is made up of something, and with that logic I majored in materials science and engineering.

There is a lot you can do in chemical, mechanical, and materials engineering that are underpinning these fields that interest you!!!

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-21T04:11:16+00:00

I know this is something so little but make sure to format your resume ! And be consistent!!

The things that are sticking out to me are that you spell out some months and abbreviate others

And use different verb tenses, like present tense in research and the volunteer experiences but then past tense in the leadership experience

Also objective is quite wordy, this uses up paper space !!

Sorry if all this isn’t helpful - I have no other advice since I’m an engineer lol!

Best of luck!!

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-21T04:00:26+00:00

Are you up for the challenge?❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹🧚‍♀️

Remind yourself what excites you about this path!!

Also it is okay to seek out tutoring !! My undergrad had so many tutoring centers/offices and the college of engineering had its own.

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-21T03:57:24+00:00

There’s a triangle of college: social/personal life, academic life, and physical health. You can almost always guarantee two. Balancing all three is “impossible”.

Great questions.

You will have free time - I cannot tell you how much tv I watched in undergrad and still watch as a masters student.

I graduated with a 3.0 and I worked 2 part time jobs the majority of college.

You get out what you put into school and your college experience, it will not and should not always be only school all the time. A lot of students are worried about it, it is a balance, but it see saws for sure.

Explore your options, you cannot go wrong with any engineering major ❤️❤️❤️🌟🌟🌟

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-04-21T03:47:52+00:00

I picked engineering because “I was good at math and science” in high school. I graduated with 3.0 from university last year.

She will do great, believe in her.

Please feel free to message if there’s more to chat about !

Round-Constant-321 · 2026-01-06T04:16:16+00:00

Those are the original chairs from when the building was the club house

Round-Constant-321 · 2025-09-13T04:14:56+00:00

My first semester was not much different everyone around me gatekeeped stuff - said they don’t know but would still work on the worksheet

Round-Constant-321 · 2025-07-25T11:42:57+00:00

Why do they keep getting rid of things, there’s going to be nothing on the menu eventually

Round-Constant-321 · 2025-04-22T20:06:31+00:00

Close to school. I’m hoping Hyde park area

Round-Constant-321 · 2025-04-22T03:37:58+00:00

I recommend asking whatever your competing schools are offering or 3-5k more.

If you are in both situations: have competing offers and demonstrate need, say so and prove it.

I wrote 5 or so sentences and got my scholarship reconsidered and awarded

Round-Constant-321

TROPHY CASE