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Communicating with college admissions officers can be intimidating, but sometimes it’s necessary. If you have questions or want to request information from colleges, this guide will teach you how to write an email to college admissions officers.
Sometimes, sending an email or even a letter to a college admissions office is necessary. That means you’ll have to learn how to write an email to a college! We’ll outline reasons to email college admissions officers, how to craft a well-written email, dos and don’ts, and sample emails to college admissions offices.
The main reasons students email colleges are to ask a question or to demonstrate interest subtly. A well-posed question can satisfy both of these reasons.
No matter where you are in the admissions process, you may have questions only a college admissions officer can answer. Some examples of questions or topics you can send include:
Ensure your emails are school-specific and directly related to your personal situation.
Before you hit “send,” you’ll want to double-check a few things. Here are some thoughts to consider prior to writing an email to a college admissions office.
It’s essential to look at the school’s website and FAQs before you send any emails. The answer to your question might be right in front of your nose!
If you email someone to ask about information you could easily find online, it shows that you aren’t resourceful enough to do your own research. That’s not a good message to send to the admissions office!
If you want to send an email just to get noticed by the admissions office, even though you don’t have a specific question, think again. It’s never a good idea to send a meaningless email just to try and get your foot in the door. You’ll be wasting their time, and it’ll likely make a bad impression.
You may not always have permission to email someone, and you don’t want to come across as disrespectful. Pay attention to the contact information that the school provides for inquiries, and don’t go digging for the email address of the president or the dean of faculties.
It may seem like a good “hack” to email someone in a more high-ranking position, but they likely will just dismiss your email as spam or something worse--impertinence.
So, how do you email a college admissions officer? Here are five easy steps to writing a concise email.
School websites usually have contact information for students. Try to find an admissions officer that oversees your region if possible.
Learning how to craft a professional email to a university means being respectful. Begin your email with a polite address to the admissions officer, using their preferred title and last name. A respectful opening can look like, “Dear Mr. Smith,” or “Hello, Ms. Doe.”
If you are emailing the admissions office and can’t find information on specific officers, you could write something like “Hello X University admissions department” or another variant that makes more sense.
Admissions officers receive many emails from students every day asking numerous questions. You should introduce yourself to give them a little more background. Give them what they need to know, to whom they’re talking, and any other relevant information.
For example, you might want to say something along the lines of, “My name is James Johnson and I am applying to Penn State in fall 2022.”
Get to the point quickly. If you’re asking a question, their response should help you decide if the school is right for you, clarify something you were curious about, or give you the in-depth information you seek.
Always say “thank you” to the admissions officer for their time. It would be best if you ended with an appropriate email closing of your choice, whether it’s “Best Wishes,” “Sincerely,” “Regards,” or another sign-off.
Follow with your first name, last name, and phone number. It’s unlikely you’ll receive a call instead of an email, but it’s best practice to include it anyway.
Now that you know how to write one, we’ll cover a college email example later on in the article.
Dos and don’ts ensure you say and do the right things at the right moments. Without further a”do,” here are the dos.
If you’re still a bit nervous or want to make sure you draft the perfect email, these email examples have you covered.
Dear University X Admissions Office,
Hello, my name is Samantha Smith, and I was recently waitlisted. I’m writing to ask if you can please tell me where I am on the waitlist.
University X is my first-choice school, and I would love to know my chances of being accepted.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Samantha Smith
987-654-3210
Hello, Ms. Jackson,
My name is Adam Allen, and I’m applying to Pomona College in fall 2022. I am nearly finished polishing my application before this month’s deadline, but I noticed the university has not confirmed that they received my SAT scores yet.
Is it possible for you to please confirm whether or not the college has received my score report? Thank you in advance for all your help.
Regards,
Adam Allen
123-456-7890
Good morning, Mr. Rodriguez,
My name is Hannah Hill, and I’m in the process of applying to College Y. I am interested in majoring in Biochemistry, but I also have a strong interest in both Health Sciences and History.
I understand that all of these programs are very demanding, but I was wondering if I would be able to declare a triple major and still follow a four-year graduation program. Could you possibly provide me with any clarity on this?
Thank you very much for your time and assistance.
Best,
Hannah Hill
123-555-1234
You don’t have to use these examples verbatim. These are just examples to show you the appropriate tone and length.
When emailing the college admissions office, you should avoid the following mistakes.
A common mistake when emailing college admissions offices is asking questions that are easily searchable online. Admissions officers are busy, and spending time on such inquiries can be timely. It also suggests the sender hasn't done thorough research. It's best to ask thoughtful, specific questions that demonstrate genuine interest and can't be quickly answered with an internet search.
While being friendly is important, using overly informal language or slang can come across as unprofessional. Admissions officers expect a certain formality in emails, reflecting respect for the institution and the application process. Striking the right balance by maintaining a polite and respectful tone is crucial to conveying genuine interest and professionalism.
While it's important to show respect, excessively formal language can make you seem distant or insincere. Admissions officers want to see your personality shine through, so being too formal might give the impression that you're not genuine or approachable. It's essential to strike a balance by maintaining a professional yet friendly tone in your emails.
If you still have questions about how to write emails to a college admissions office, check out these FAQs.
You should begin by addressing the person/office, introducing yourself, and quickly asking a question admissions offices are able to answer.
A good question to a college admissions office would be any query you can’t find the answer to online. You can ask about majors, programs, research opportunities, application materials, and much more.
When you ask for a recommendation letter by email, you should be polite and professional. Proofread your email for any errors, and be sure that you attach all the necessary materials.
Before you finish your email, remember to thank your college admission officer for their time and help! Good manners will make a big difference.
To sign off, you should use a polite phrase, such as “Sincerely” or “Regards”.
Whenever you have a good reason to email a college admissions officer, it’s in your best interest to do so. Remember to keep your tone professional and your writing concise. You’re sure to get the response you need, whatever your questions are.
