How to Communicate with Professors
Learning how to communicate with a professor can help you in college and beyond. Here, we outline everything you need to know.
October 26, 2021

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Emailing a professor remains one of the most efficient ways students can establish an open channel of communication outside the classroom. An email allows enrollees to gather and communicate their thoughts with clarity and concision. In addition, an email provides a record of communication, and professors can reply at their convenience. Well-developed digital communication skills serve students in school and in their professional careers.
This guide focuses on the benefits of developing effective communication skills when contacting professors.
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How Connecting with Professors Will Benefit You
Professors keep consultation hours to help students with issues not addressed in the classroom. Outside of these hours, students can often contact their professors through email. Taking the time to connect with professors yields several benefits that can last beyond college, including the three advantages described below.
Questions About Communicating with Professors
Use the official email address the school assigned to the professor you wish to contact, especially when you email them about course-related concerns.
Time permitting, many professors do not mind clarifying course-related problems in class. However, students should get in touch with a professor privately if they have a personal problem.
Yes, you may follow up on an earlier email. Include a gentle reminder that the current email is a follow-up to an earlier message and summarize the concern. Do not copy and paste the body of the initial email into the follow-up email.
Keep email correspondence formal. This tone avoids ambiguity and keeps communication on topic.
Include only as much detail as necessary for the professor to understand your issue. You can discuss more specific details in person, if needed.
How to Email a Professor
Emailing a professor is a simple task, but it helps to put thought into your communication. Applying a few tips, such as the ones listed below, can help ensure clear communication and encourage a timely response. Students should note their professor's preferred communication tone and tailor their email accordingly.
Sample Email to a College Professor
To: gsmith@abcuniversity.edu
From: shill@abcuniversity.edu
Subject: Psychology 101 Questions
Dear Professor Smith,
I’m in your Psychology 101 class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00 pm. I have a few questions about classical conditioning as I’m struggling to understand how it works. Unfortunately, I have another class during your office hours. Can you please let me know if you’re available to meet with me sometime next week, and if so, what days and times might work for you?
Regards,
Samantha Hill
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