EMAIL ETIQUETTE
While a great deal of teenager and young adult communication (even mine, to be honest) is either online or via text, once they begin to communicate with college administrators and/or professors, both before and after they are admitted, they will likely use more phone/voice messaging or email. And while email may feel to them as if it is similar to texting, it is actually quite different in crucial ways. While texting is full of abbreviations, emojis, and an absence of grammar, emails are quite the opposite. There is more room for expression, tone and conversation in an email and one’s voice shines through. This can play to one’s advantage if used properly and can be a handicap if one is not aware of these nuances.
Most importantly, one must answer emails. Of course, I am not referring to the loads of spam we all receive, but if we receive an email from someone we know, it is up to us to answer it in a timely manner; whether or not it is something we are happy to do. Avoidance is not an appropriate reaction to an email, particularly if it comes from an administrator or a professor. Second, finding just the right wording, even if it causes some anxiety and takes a bit of time to do so, is a valuable skill to master. (Consider how often we use this during the course of a work day!) Third, it can not appear like a text; that is, it must have coherent sentences (paragraphs, even!), correct grammar, and begin with a form of hello and a suitable sign-off. The time you invest in guiding your child in this skill will pay off, I promise. They will use this skill repeatedly, whether during their college years (it will likely set them apart from their peers), in their job search, or once they are out in the working world.
A professor or administrator will remember how they are treated. If a student ignores an email or sends an unprofessionally worded email, that will reflect poorly on that student, and a subsequent recommendation may not be as glowing as it might have been otherwise. On the other hand, a warm, courteous, prompt, and well-worded email to a potential mentor, administrator, or professional contact, could make all the difference!