How To Email Your Professors + Free Template

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I have been using my email for a lonnnnng time. Since middle school (or before that) but not for sending emails. I used it to register for games and prizes (lol). No one ever teaches you how to write a professional email so you are left to figure it out all on your own. It's important to understand 'email etiquette' no matter who you may be emailing, but especially when emailing your professors. So when I got to college and had to email my professors I was a little nervous. I wasn't sure how to find a balance between being professional and casual. I always contemplated on whether or not to start my emails with "Hey, Hi, Hello" or to say "Dear Professor blah blah". I mean my emails didn't come out too bad but I have learned some things in my three years of college that have made my life, and can make your life easier. The way you communicate with your professor is very important and can say a lot about the student you are. First things first, decide if you really need to send an email or if what you need to talk with them about would be better discussed in person during office hours (yes, they have those, read the syllabus!) And since we're discussing the syllabus, make sure what you want to ask or discuss isn't already covered there.

photo from weheartit.com
EMAIL ADDRESS Once you've made it past that conclusion the next thing to always make sure you do is to use either your school email address or a professional one. This is the first things that is going to pop up and the last thing you want your professor to see if your embarrassing middle school email. Using belieber4life@gmail.com is not acceptable when it comes to emailing professors! If you don't already have one try using your first name, period, last name @ whichever email you choose ("kate.johnson@gmail.com" for example). And when it comes to finding your professors email, it can almost always be found in the syllabus.  SUBJECT The second thing that will be seen is the subject line, and because of this you should always keep it concise and straight to the point. It will help your professor to know what you are contacting them about and will help when they are replying to you. For example, when I am emailing my professors about certain absences I will make the subject line " Week 9 Absences", or something along those lines. Never send an email with no subject line. GREETING If your professor has already made it clear what they prefer to be called, be sure you address them in that way in your email. Simply just stated "Professor _______" will do if you don't know their title. And before addressing your reason for emailing them, starting off with "I hope this email finds you well" is a great professional greeting! Make sure you don't overdo it. MESSAGE Keep in mind that short, sweet, and to the point is the best way to write an email. Only include information that is relevant to the situation. Do not write a page long email for a short question. A short opening with who you are and why you are writing will do. Most professors are on a tight time schedule and it is the worst to receive an email for a short little question. Also, make sure you use proper punctuation and grammar. LOL, JK, NBD is not professional in emails. FINISHING IT OFF Now that you have reached the end of your email it is time to thank your professor for taking the time to read your email. A simple " Thank you for your time" will do. Professors are more likely to respond and appreciate your email enough to help you out if they feel respected. 
SIGNATURE & CONTACT INFORMATION Something that is also important is how you "sign" your email. I always play it safe and just put my first and last name. That way the teacher can easily look up what class I am in and/or recognize who is emailing them if they remember my name. I also include my email and phone number underneath so my contact information is easily accessible if needed. I hope this post has been helpful to you and if you need a visual  you can download the Email Template Here! 
Until next time..