A quick tutorial on emailing professors.

I know a lot of students have questions about fall semester, and you might want to reach out to new professors you've never met. Here's some advice on how to start that conversation:

1. Usually addressing the email "Prof. [Last Name]" is the safest bet. Not all professors have PHDs, so not all professors are doctors. All professors are professors however.

Some PHDs really do prefer Dr. It's hard to achieve, so people are proud! If you're not sure-- GOOGLE.

2. Think about your subject line. I can see you name in your email, so you don't need to write "Teri Del Rosso question." I can gather that much. Something as simple as "Fall semester health concerns" or "Plans for PBRL 3421" works just fine. At least I know what to expect.

3. Your professors are people. That means they are going through it just like you are. Likely in different ways, but all the things that are going on in your world are going on in their world, too.

A simple, "How are you? I hope your family is well" can go a long way.

3b. Recognizing someone's humanity is a soft skill you need to develop. Jumping right into it without a small sentence or question that builds rapport won't help you now and it won't help you in the future. Even the tired "I hope this email finds you well" is better than nothing.

4. If your email has a lot of questions and baggage, the humane thing might be to ask for a call or Zoom. The professor will let you know if email is preferred or appropriate.

5. Not a tip as much as an FYI, but a lot of your faculty are on 9-month contracts, which means they aren't necessarily being paid to answer your emails. This is especially true for adjunct/PT faculty, many of whom might have other jobs. Just be mindful of this.

6. If you know the prof, please act like it. I let ALL my students know that they can call me Teri. I'm always so weirded out when students call me Teri for a full semester and then email me, "Hello, Dr. Del Rosso." It's a weird shift. It's like "Hi, Jamie. We know each other."

7. Please please PLEASE try to answer your questions on your own. I use the same process to determine which classes are full as you do. There's a huge difference between asking your professor to help you strategize and asking your prof to do your work.

8. Don't be afraid to follow-up. I've been TRAGIC on email lately. I'm not trying to be, it's just kinda happening. Gentle reminders are great.

9. One more thing about the name game:

Ms/Mrs/Miss will not serve you AT ALL. I'm ordained and I'd honestly preferred to be called Rev. Del Rosso than Mrs. Del Rosso. Even my Mom shudders at Mrs. Del Rosso.

Happy emailing! Don't forget to spell check and sign your name!

These are just my opinions, would love to hear from other profs!

I forgot a big one:

THANK THEM.

Don't just get the answers and go radio silent. A quick, "Thanks for your help!" can go a long way!

Another one LOL:

Please do not apologize for emailing me. You don't need to be sorry for having a question. You don't need to apologize for existing and needing help.

"I appreciate you taking the time!" instead of "Sorry to bother you!"

STOP. BEING. SORRY!