Email Etiquette - Academic Advising (2024)

FAQs

What to do if an academic advisor doesn't respond? ›

You may try to send a follow up email if you don't receive a response within one week. If your professor accidentally missed your message, this can remind them to respond to you. If your class has a teaching assistant, you could try to email them as well, as they may be able to offer you the support you're looking for.

Add a topic on the subject line. Do not leave the subject blank. (Appointment with professor: Jane Doe) • Address your recipient by title and last name (Professor Doe) • Use full sentences, standard punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and proper grammar. Avoid slang and emojis.

Allow your recipient a reasonable amount of time to respond. 24-48 hours is reasonable. An hour and a half is not reasonable. Professors often have a different sense of what is within a reasonable timeframe to respond to your email than you do.

If you are still confident about this one professor, I'd recommend sending the same exact email one more time only. If they don't respond, then try moving onto the next professor you could find. Also, the professor you are willing to work with doesn't have to be from the college you intend on applying to.

It depends. If the email the professor sent you was personalized and detailed, it's good practice to respond with a quick "Thanks!" but if the professor sent an email to a larger group of people with information, then typically no response is needed. In general, when in doubt go with a quick thank you.

One study revealed that 62% of customers expect a response to their email within four hours. Nine in ten wanted a response at least within 24 hours. It's vital that you bear these timeframes in mind when determining when to follow up – 82% would stop doing business with a company that takes longer.

What not to say to professors? ›

Here's what you should never say to your professors. I taught writing at a university for nine years. You should never ask a professor if they accept late work. You should also never call a professor unfair if you aren't getting your way.

Don't be too wordy or too personal

You don't need to write your professor a whole story to ask them the question or tell them the issue you may have. Use fewer words and explain the general background of your situation, without getting into details that may be too personal.

If you haven't received a response from a coach after a follow-up email, check with your high school or club coach to see if they have any information. They can try to contact the coach on your behalf. Coaches can get swamped with emails, but sometimes, no response might signal a lack of interest.

The vast majority of universities recommend meeting your academic advisor at least once a semester. There may be times when you need to speak to them more often than that, but you shouldn't leave too long between advising sessions.

Expert-Verified Answer

You should not expect your academic advisor to make decisions for you about academic plans and courses; this is your responsibility. Reflect on past decisions and approach future career decisions with a better understanding of your goals.