写套磁信之前要做好充分的research，你应该知道：
Research about the background and working of the professor
Know enough about the field to know whether this work really interests you
What the professor works on?
Why are you interested in this professor?
What is a level of commitment you have?
What is it that you have that others don't?
套磁信标题
Greetings from Perspective Student
或
Interested in your research on XXX
或
Interested in 20XX Fall Program---XXX
套磁信结构
第一封套磁信没有固定的内容，但一般情况下，会涉及以下三个部分。具体需要根据导师和个人情况作出调整。
PART 1：简答介绍自己的个人情况，包括学校，专业，GPA，毕业时间，工作经历，研究背景等。
例如：
I am beginning my senior year at the University of [XXX]. During my time as an undergraduate, I have become involved with research on [XXX] under the direction of Dr. [XXX]. I am in the process of conducting my own study examining the effects of [A] on [B] and expect to find [hypothesis].
PART 2：最主要的一部分：将自己的研究兴趣和研究经历和导师相结合，展现自己的Knowledge，experience，interests等，提出我为什么要做研究，我将来想做什么研究，未来的research plan。
或是
针对导师的paper或是research，提出一些问题。重点是体现自己对导师的了解，以及对导师的观点的思考。
例如：
I have read your research about [XYZ] and find it interesting. I am especially interested in how X from your studies relates to Y from my study. This is one area I could see myself exploring in research as a graduate student.
或
I have read your research about [XYZ] and find it interesting. I was wondering how W would affect your finding about XYZ. Did your study or another one find that W is also related to XYZ? This is one area I could see myself exploring further in research as a graduate student.
PART 3：可以让导师推荐一些书或是论文给你。或是，可以问一下具体的情况(例如是否招学生，funding，scholarship等)
I will be applying to Ph.D. programs this fall and would very much like the opportunity to join your lab group. Will you be accepting applications for new graduate students for entry in 2017.
Thanks very much for your time. I hope we have the chance to speak about research in the future.
Sincerely,
TIPS:第一封邮件，不是必须添加CV,Paper等，如果得到回复，可以进一步发送这些文件。
套磁注意事项
1.Have an informative subject line
2.Be concise
3.Be formal: Dear Dr. Smith; Sincerely, Your Name
4.NOT use Mrs. or Ms.
5.NOT have slang, abbreviations, or emoticons
6.If applying for an opening:
address any qualifications the professor is looking for and demonstrate your experience
7.If asking for a research opportunity:
state specifically your interest in that research group (you need to read the professor's website and a few recent papers); explain why research is important for your goals; ask to schedule a meeting in person or Skype or say that you will be coming to office hours if you're on campus; NOT write the same e-mail to 10 different professors (i.e. spam them)
总的来说，申请PhD的套磁信就像promotion，必须show出自己有能力做研究，证明给导师看你已经读过他们的paper，并且能有自己的观点。
发出第一封信后...
情况一：教授没有招生计划
[Professor will not be considering applications this year.]
At this point, it is safe to either remove the program from the list of those you will be applying to and replace it with another program or make contact with another professor in the first program whose research interests you. Do not email more than two people per program though.
解决办法：寻找其他导师，或让导师介绍其他教授
情况二：教授有招生意向
[Professor will be considering applications.]
By all means, keep this program on the list of those to which you will be applying. The faculty member who you corresponded with will likely recognize your name when it comes time to review applications and this could work to your advantage. Refrain from reading too much into a warm or overly positive reply though. It does not mean much about your chances for admission.
解决办法：保持联系，继续套磁
情况三：没有收到回复
[You do not receive a reply at all/]
解决办法：仍然可以申请，但成功的几率很低。
