Sample Email To Professor Asking For Help
Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you required the assistance of a professor for one reason or another? You try to send an email, but you’re not sure where to start or how to make a persuasive message.
This post will give several templates to make everyone’s job simpler. Yes, I’m referring to the professor as well. A professor’s day is likely to be hectic, and they may not be able to read every email they get.
As a result, your email should be brief and to the point, while also employing the right tone to communicate with an authority figure. Keep in mind that some of the templates provided in this article can also be used with other authority figures in the educational field.
Tips For Writing to Professors
Before you even begin writing your email to your professor, is essential to keep these tips in mind.
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Use Appropriate Title
While some professors may be fine with students addressing them with the salutation “Hey” or “Hi”, it’s considered appropriate and unprofessional. It’s therefore advisable to address your professor with a formal salutation “Hello”, or “Dear”.
This must then be followed with the professor’s official title and Surname. This can be “Professor”, “Dr.” or “Doctor” followed by their surname. Ensure that their surnames are also correctly spelled as a show of respect.
It’s advisable that you do not give an instructor the wrong title as they can take offense. I have seen a professor angry with a student for calling them, “Doctor”.
While this may not seem like a problem to most people, professors had to put in a lot of work to attain that title and can take offense when called something other than the title they worked hard to earn.
Enter Subject Line
The subject line is another thing to consider when asking for help. Ensure that your email contains a subject and it’s appropriate. An inappropriate subject line for an email asking for help from your professor would be something like “Help!!!”.
Straight To the Point
Professors have busy schedules and have to respond to loads of emails daily. Some from other students, other professors, the institution, and various other projects they’re communicating on.
It’s therefore advisable that any emails to your professor should be short and straight to the point. While an initial introduction may be necessary, you should endeavor to keep that as short as possible.
Describe your problem and what you require in as few phrases as possible. Bear in mind that the longer emails from a student would most likely be postponed for later to attend to more important and urgent requests.
You should therefore convey your information and its urgency to the professor in a few sentences.
Good Grammar
A note from a student with terrible grammar is the last thing any professor wants to read. Poor grammar is not limited to academics; it is improper in any professional environment or message.
Students should make certain that their email is well-structured and free of grammatical mistakes. Grammarly is a free spell checker that you may use. While it isn’t flawless, it can help you limit the number of mistakes in your phrases.
Clear Message
Ensure that your message is clear for anyone to understand in just a few sentences. If any additional resources are necessary to convey your point, ensure that you attach these materials to your email.
This could be screenshots or any other resource necessary to better clarify your point in the email. This saves them a lot of work if some research is necessary on their end to fully appreciate your message.
Read Through Email
It goes without saying that going over your email is critical to identify any errors. While some people are accustomed to just writing without proofreading, it is vital to do so when your professor is the receiver of the email.
Email to Professors Asking for Help Templates
Template 1 – Asking Help from Professor – Assignment
Email Subject
Questions About Assignment {{Assignment Title}}
Body
Dear Professor {{last name}},
I hope that you’re in good health.
I’m in your {{class name}} that meets on {{class days and time if available}}. I’m struggling to complete the assignment on {{assignment title}} due on {{due date}}. I’ve gone through the lesson notes and tried reaching out to my peers to help clarify {{topic you don’t understand}} but I’m still struggling. Since some of my peers also have the same challenge, I was wondering if you could find time in your schedule to help us better understand the topic.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
{{Your name}}
Template 2 – Asking Help from Professor – Letter of recommendation
Email Subject
Recommendation Request – {{FirstName LastName}}
Body
Dear Professor {{last name}},
I hope this email finds you well. I am in the process of applying to {{company or institution name}} and a recommendation letter from someone who can effectively comment on my work habits, talents, and successes is required as part of the application. Based on our years of experience, I feel you can assist me with an effective, honest, and informative letter.
I would be grateful if you could write a letter of reference for me that highlights the strong work habits I’ve demonstrated since we’ve known one other. The letter’s submission deadline is {{deadline}}. If for any reason you will be unable to provide me with this letter before the due date, I would appreciate it if you can notify me as soon as possible.
Additionally, if there is any information, I can supply to assist you in writing the letter in greater depth, I would be pleased to send it to you.
Thank you for taking the time and making the effort on my behalf.
Sincerely,
{{Your name}}
Template 3 – Asking Help from Professor – Asking Assignment for Extension
Email Subject
Extension Request For {{Assignment Title}}
Body
Dear Professor {{last name}},
I hope you are well. I would like to ask for an extension on my assignment on {{Assignment name}} which is due on {{Due Date}}. Due to {{problem}} I will be unable to submit the assignment by the due date.
I realize the significance of this assignment and could really use a little extra time to complete it. Would it be possible to have an extension through the weekend, and turn it in on Monday instead of Friday?
Please let me know if you would like me to meet with you during your office hours to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
{{Your name}}
Template 4 – Asking Help from Professor – Asking Assignment for Extension
Email Subject
Request For Deadline Extension On {{Assignment title}}
Body
Dear Professor {{last name}},
I deeply regret missing the deadline for the assignment on {{Assignment Title}}. I was writing my homework when I came across some significant materials, which I need additional time to examine in order to produce high-quality work. I apologize for not contacting you sooner on the extension.
I underestimated the amount of time required to conduct the research and write the paper. I sincerely apologize and pledge not to do the same thing again. I realize it’s my mistake, and I humbly beg that you grant me an extension so that I may finish the assignment properly. I promise to try my best and submit high-quality work.
Sincerely
{{Your name}}
Template 5 – Asking Help from Professor – Question on A Topic
Email Subject
Question On {{Topic}}
Body
Dear Professor {{last name}},
Thank you for a thorough explanation of {{Topic}}. I had a question about {{Question Area}}. {{Full Question}}? I’ve attached a screenshot to this email to further clarify the problem.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely
{{Your name}}
