Follow-up
No reply yet? Follow up politely
Tell it what your first email was about and when you sent it. You'll see whether it's time to follow up, and get a short, friendly email that assumes good faith.
When to follow up
To
Subject
Tip: send this as a reply to your original email, so the first message is quoted underneath.
How long to wait before following up
| Situation | Wait | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework question | 2 working days | Due sooner? Try office hours, the class forum or a TA as well. |
| Extension request | 1 working day | Always before the due date; check for a formal extension process. |
| Meeting request | 3 working days | Or simply go to office hours. |
| Recommendation letter | About a week | For the first ask. After a yes, remind two weeks and a few days before the deadline. |
| Research inquiry | 7–10 working days | One follow-up, then contact other labs. |
| Grade question | 3 working days | Office hours are often quicker. |
| Anything else | 3 working days | A reasonable default for academic email. |
These are rules of thumb, not policies. If your syllabus says how quickly the instructor answers email, go by that. Around exams, holidays and the start of term, add a day or two.
Keep it short and generous
- Assume it got buried, not ignored. “In case my email got lost” works; “You haven't replied” doesn't.
- Restate the ask in one line, so they can answer without scrolling.
- Offer another route: office hours, a TA or the department office.
- Check your sent folder first, and make sure the original went from your school address to the right one.
Before sending, you can run your follow-up through the tone checker.