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Collegegal Posted 10 years ago
Letter Writing

How to respectfully ask for a meeting time with a professor/director of a business department

I have been trying to contact this professor and get an answer from him for about 2 weeks now. He is very particular about how emails are worded and I keep that in mind with every email I send him. (Over the summer I found this out the hard way.) In that email I was asking for a meeting time in which I said "Let me know what time would work best for you." At the time, I didn't realize that this could sound demanding, but I received an email back from him correcting my mistake in using a directive in an email to him. Months later now, I'm trying to meet with him about discussing internship opportunities. He sent an email to the students of the department with an internship opportunity and I emailed him explaining my interest. Here is what is going on:

Good evening Dr. "Smith",

I am "anonymous". We met over the summer to discuss the "internship program" which I originally wanted to complete as my internship. However, you told me that day to really think about if that was the place for me, and the more I think about it, the more I don't think it is. The business seminars really opened my eyes to other options that were out there for me. This email really caught my interest and I would absolutely love to do my internship at the "blank". I would love to meet with you to see if this would be an option for me.

Thank you so much, I really do appreciate your help in finding internship opportunities!

"Anonymous"

His Response:

"Anonymous",

Can you come to see my on Tuesday?  Do you have a resume developed?

Dr. "Smith"

p.s.  Let’s get working on this!

My Response:

Dr. "Smith",

I'm very excited about this. I can meet on Tuesday early in the morning, if it's before my class at 10am. I also have a break between 12:15 and 2pm. I would also like to ask about other opportunities with you if we find this one may not be for me. I do have a resume developed, and I'll be sure I update it before we meet. Could we meet early on Tuesday or during that break?

Thank you so much for your help!

"Anonymous"

I didn't receive an email back so a week later I sent this email:

Good morning Dr. "Smith",

I hope you had a great and relaxing weekend! I wanted to apologize in case my previous email was unprofessional or immature. I really have been trying to improve with this and I really hope I didn't come across that way. I am still looking forward to getting the chance to meet with you about discussing internship opportunities for me, and I would love to find a time that would work for both of us.

Thank you again for all your help, and I hope you have a great week!

"Anonymous"

His response:

I’ll be in the office tomorrow.  Let’s chat!

Let’s also just move on and make something work for you.

Dr. "Smith"

My response:

That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much! What times would work best for you?

I'm looking forward to it!

"Anonymous"

Again, I did not receive a response.

I came to his office this morning to see if he was in, but he wasn't. I also overheard someone saying his office hours, which I would not be able to attend due to my many classes, rehearsals, and two jobs I'm working. I understand that he's busy, but I am also busy which makes this hard.

What should I do now?
  

Top answer

collegegal What should I do now? Just go to see him during his office hours as soon as possible. Emails can carry you only so far and then it's time to be more proactive.

  • collegegal What should I do now?
  • Just go to see him during his office hours as soon as possible.
  • Emails can carry you only so far and then it's time to be more proactive.
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1 Answers
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collegegalWhat should I do now?
Just go to see him during his office hours as soon as possible. Emails can carry you only so far and then it's time to be more proactive.

Welcome to English Forums, collegegal. Thank you for registering as a member.

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