<p>This is just an etiquette question -- is it ok to re-send emails to professors who don't reply? Last week I emailed this professor/advisor a question about grad school, and she hasn't gotten back to me yet. I'm thinking about sending the same email to her again in case it got lost in her inbox, but I don't want to seem annoying.</p>
<p>I second the question.</p>
<p>Usually e-mails don't get lost in the inbox of a professor. Sometimes professors forget about their e-mails, but some professors don't like replying to e-mails of undergrads that don't deal with administrative questions (I've e-mailed profs with simple questions - many of those e-mails go unreplied)</p>
<p>The problem is that it could also depend on the type of the e-mail. Some professors are easily offended by questions they perceive as "stupid", for example (this is often the case for frequently e-mailed questions). I'm not sure about the scope of this behavior though (I'm a very cynical person, so I overestimate these things)</p>
<p>If you REALLY need to talk to the professor - it's probably better for you to meet face to face with the prof.</p>
<p>OTOH, I emailed a prof this summer (about switching to having him as an advisor). He didn't get back to me, and so after about a month (I cut him some slack because I though he might be on vacation), I emailed him again with the same question, and as a PS asked if he had gotton my last email. It turns out he hadn't! So I'd try emailing again.n</p>
<p>E-mail again or call or visit during office hours. Sometimes campus mail is quirky. Also, as is the case with anyone, profs may accidentally overlook or forget about e-mails.</p>
<p>Make sure that your question isn't one that is answered on the web site. It's a pain to get questions that students easily can find out the answers to by doing basic research on the college web site.</p>
<p>You should actually talk to your professor before/after class or during his/her office hours if he hasn't responded to your email. Do not email the prof again. I work under a professor and he has told me that he knows when the school year has officially started when he receives tons of emails from students and his colleagues. He is literally running out of space in his inbox. </p>
<p>Also make sure it's not a question that can be answered on his/her syllabus. I remember in a class of 600 students, people kept emailing the prof asking whether the final was cumulative, despite him saying it numerous times in class, emailing us twice about it, and it being stated on the syllabus. He kept his cool about the situation, but I could tell that he was getting really annoyed by answering the same emails over and over again. (This is the same prof whom I work under). </p>
<p>So just ask your question after class, if it's something that can be answered quickly. If you need help comprehending the material, then I would visit the prof's office hours. They are usually pretty lonely.</p>
<p>Is this a professor at your university? You said it was for grad school so I don't know if it's a simple question about grad school in general or trying to make contact with a prof at a school you're applying for. If you can't see them in person, then yes - send another email.</p>
<p>One week is forgivable - they may be busy with other stuff, on vacation, or overlooked the email. If you still don't hear from them by next week, then you can send a secondary email. Don't just send the same exact email. Tailor it to indicate this is your second attempt to contact them and that you are eager to hear from them.</p>
<p>Telephone is your friend when email doesn't work.</p>