Let’s be honest: email is not exactly your preferred communication method. If you had it your way, everything would be done through texts, DMs, or maybe even a quick FaceTime. But in college and honestly, for the rest of your adult existence, email is the main way teachers, professors, advisors, scholarship committees, and future bosses will talk to you.
So, let’s skip the cringe and get you confident enough to send an email that sounds professional, makes sense, and won’t leave the person on the other end wondering if autocorrect staged a coup.
If you’ve ever squinted at “CC” or “BCC” and hoped for the best, this section is for you.
The main person/people you're emailing.
People who should see the email but don’t need to respond.
Example: If you're emailing a teacher about a group project, maybe CC the rest of your group.
Stealth mode activated. Only you and that hidden person know they're there.
When it matters:
Reply = respond to just the sender
Reply All = respond to everyone on the thread
Use Reply All sparingly unless the entire squad needs your message.
Think of email etiquette as the adult version of not chewing with your mouth open. It’s simple, respectful, and absolutely necessary.
A quick “Hi, hello, good morning” never hurt anyone. It helps your message sound polished instead of rushed.
Good options:
Avoid:
This matters a lot when you're emailing a:
Example:
Boom. They know who you are and why you’re here.
You don’t need to write a novel, but you also don’t want to sound like a cryptic text message.
Confusing:
“I have a question.”
(Okay…but what kind of question?)
Better:
“I’m emailing because I’m unclear about the requirements for the Week 3 reflection paper. Could you clarify whether we need two sources or three?”
Short. Respectful. Answerable.
This is especially important when emailing adults who make decisions about your grades, recommendations, or scholarship money.
Check for:
Pro tip: sloppy emails can unintentionally send the message that you’re not detail-oriented.
No need to write like you're applying to be the CEO of Google. Just avoid slang, emoji storms, or abbreviations that could confuse someone.
Bad:
“Sooo I missed class yesterday, what I miss? Idk what’s going on😭”
Better:
“I wasn’t able to attend class yesterday. Could you share what we covered or let me know where I can access the materials?”
Your subject line should not be a mystery. Make it obvious what your email is about.
Subject line examples:
File name examples:
Please don’t send something titled “finalFINALessay(2).docx” unless you enjoy chaos.
Teachers and scholarship reviewers aren’t waiting by their inbox for you to send 19 separate messages. Try to gather your questions into one well-organized email.
This keeps you looking put-together — not panicked.
A simple, clean closing looks great and takes 2 seconds.
You don’t need motivational quotes, funky fonts, or a link to your Spotify playlist (save that for Instagram).
Not everyone emails at lightning speed. Give teachers, admissions counselors, and scholarship organizations at least 48 hours during the week.
Follow-up example:
“Hi Professor Smith, I hope you're doing well. I wanted to follow up on the email I sent on Monday regarding the research assignment.”
Short, sweet, respectful.
If something is confusing, complicated, or emotionally charged, sometimes a meeting is the better option. Email is great—but it’s not therapy, conflict mediation, or a place to pour out the entire group project's issues.
Use email to set up the conversation, not have the whole conversation.
Whether you're emailing a teacher, a college admissions rep, or the committee deciding if you get that scholarship, knowing how to write a strong email is a necessary skill.
Good emails help you:
And the best part? Once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature — like double-checking your camera is off before joining a Zoom call.
You’ve got this. Go craft those emails like the capable, organized, scholarship-deserving student you are.