Initiating advisor correspondence

bunni727

I got into my grad program, yay! And now a silly question:

My advisor was assigned to me this afternoon, and I was told that I need to contact him to set up my first advising session. How do I word this email?

I'm particularly stumped on the greeting. Dear Sir? Dr. Name? Professor Name? Howdy?

I'd really appreciate some guidance: don't want to make myself look like a total goob as my first impression.

MuppetFan

Congrats! I

Hmm. Most of my teachers go by their first name. Not all of them are professors so do not get that title. Can you look them up on the school website and see how they address themselves?

AddieCake

Congrats!

bunni727

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_initiating-advisor-correspondence?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:7cc4af1a-8ccb-4a59-b729-25090abfe752Post:cdb70c72-ad51-4375-9e52-b1f8a6669db6">Re: Initiating advisor correspondence</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, is he a Dr?  I would look on the website of the program and see how he is referred to. Then simply: Dear [Insert name and title here], I have recently been admitted your program and need to sign up for my first advising session.  Please let me know what time would be convenient for you. Thanks, Bunni <strong>Seriously, hon, you're over thinking it at bit.</strong>
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]
 I know, I have a special talent for that. <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-embarassed.gif" border="0" alt="Embarassed" title="Embarassed" />

Your wording sounds great, though. Thanks!

Xandy417

Dear first name last name, include dr if that is their title otherwise professor also works if they also teach Introduce yourself and let them know they are your advisor. Let the person know when you are available to set up a meeting. Sincerely, Your first name last name You can use more informal language after you have met them and then only if they initiate it such as "call me John" instead of dr. John Smith Congratulations on getting into graduate school. I just finished my masters program. What are you going to school for?

Summer2011Bride

Congrats! I think what Stage said sounds good.

I would definitely not refer to him by first name until he tells you it is OK to do so. If he has a PhD, then I would say Dr. Lastname to be safe. If he doesn't, I would do Mr. Lastname or Professor Lastname.

bunni727

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_initiating-advisor-correspondence?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:7cc4af1a-8ccb-4a59-b729-25090abfe752Post:ff40a837-a66d-47d5-a615-cd879698c91c">Re: Initiating advisor correspondence</a>:
[QUOTE]Congrats! I Hmm. Most of my teachers go by their first name. Not all of them are professors so do not get that title. <strong>Can you look them up on the school website and see how they address themselves?</strong>
Posted by MuppetFan[/QUOTE]

See, this is where I got hung up. The bio of him on the website refers to him as Mr, but the email I got from student affairs says "I've assigned you to Prof. Lastname for advising." He has a MSLS degree, so no Dr.

Xandy417

You could always just refer to him as mr. or professor. It's polite and formal.

bunni727

Thanks all!

I'll be going for my master's in Library Science. I'm very lucky in that the library where I currently work is happy to grow librarians "in house": they'll let me do school work at my desk as long as I don't slack on current responsibilities, and will even order some of my books.

Summer2011Bride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_initiating-advisor-correspondence?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:7cc4af1a-8ccb-4a59-b729-25090abfe752Post:ec2c46e8-0bed-4244-ba61-edf374a18169">Re: Initiating advisor correspondence</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks all! I'll be going for my master's in Library Science. I'm very lucky in that the library where I currently work is happy to grow librarians "in house": they'll let me do school work at my desk as long as I don't slack on current responsibilities, and will even order some of my books.
Posted by bunni727[/QUOTE]

That's awesome! I seriously contemplated doing that for my Masters as well. I did English instead, but haven't ruled out going back for a second Masters, and if I do, Library Science is a definite possibility.

bunni727

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_initiating-advisor-correspondence?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:7cc4af1a-8ccb-4a59-b729-25090abfe752Post:0c85e6e9-298a-4446-a4ca-b9647bc8b984">Re: Initiating advisor correspondence</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Initiating advisor correspondence : That's awesome! I seriously contemplated doing that for my Masters as well. I did English instead, but haven't ruled out going back for a second Masters, and if I do, Library Science is a definite possibility.
Posted by Summer2011Bride[/QUOTE]

Cool. I did my BA in English, and planned to go straight into grad school for LS but financials didn't work out that way.

Did you have a specialty in English?

Summer2011Bride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_initiating-advisor-correspondence?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:7cc4af1a-8ccb-4a59-b729-25090abfe752Post:42de789e-7d45-4b4e-ba27-8080374a527d">Re: Initiating advisor correspondence</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Initiating advisor correspondence : Cool. I did my BA in English, and planned to go straight into grad school for LS but financials didn't work out that way. Did you have a specialty in English?
Posted by bunni727[/QUOTE]

We could choose to do the literature track or writing track; I chose writing. I much prefer teaching writing and teach a college composition course.

bunni727

That sounds neat. My H teaches high school English, and I'm always impressed by anyone that can teach. No way could I be a teacher of any sort. Understand, analyze, research? All verbs I can do, and well. Explain so that someone else can do those things? Not in a million years.

Angelface225

Congrats Bunni, that's really exciting!!

Peledreamsofrain

If he's a Dr., do not make assumptions and avoid the title. From years of working with the public, I can assure you that many people with doctorates will not let you get away with foregoing the title. If he corrects you and asks to be addressed more informally, there's your green light.

efmcc67

Congrats! And welcome to the world of librarianship. Do you have any particular aspect of librarianship you're planning on studying?

Like Stage said, check the website and see if you can find out if he's a Dr. If you can't find out, go with "Professor." 

bunni727

The bio of him on the website refers to him as Mr, but the email I got from student affairs says "I've assigned you to Prof. Lastname for advising." He's not a Dr. I went with Professor Lastname.

I'm currently doing acquisitions and cataloging in an Academic/Medical library. I've selected the generalist track, which I can customize a bit; I'd be happy to advance within this or a similar library, but want to keep my options open to work in a regular academic or public setting, should the need arise in the future.

libby2483

Congrats! I considered going to graduate school for library science, but there aren't any programs within commuting distance of where we live.  The job market around here is also pretty dismal in that field.  I'm getting my master's in school counseling instead, but library science is still something that very much interests me.

bunni727

Libby, my program is 100% online, with asynchronous classes. Let me know if you'd like some info about it.