<p>Just an etiquette question here I guess. I sent an e-mail last Monday to my aid counselor (an e-mail that would warrant a response). After waiting a week, I sent a follow up e-mail this Monday to ensure I'd sent my e-mail to the right place. It is now over a week since the original e-mail and nothing. Is it appropriate to call today to ask? I don't want to be seen as a petulant child who needs their question answered immediately as if I'm the most important thing in the world, but at the same time I would like my question to be answered and I think that's fair.</p>
<p>In short: am I rushing someone by calling to follow up ~8 work days after I sent an e-mail?</p>
<p>What was the nature of your question? Was it something that anyone in the office could answer or would it require the attention of a specific person? I sent an email to my son’s financial aid office recently and it took over a week for them to reply. But I wouldn’t have worried if it had taken two weeks because it was a very specific inquiry that I’m sure not just anyone would have been able to answer. Do you really need an answer immediately? If yes, then call.</p>
<p>Well, it was regarding a financial aid appeal. Nothing life or death, but a question I would like answered, and not lost in the shuffle. I’m not sure if someone could evaluate me who wasn’t my designated counselor.</p>
<p>If it helps, this is at Northeastern University; a large school well known for its “red tape”; to be expected, but I didn’t know if I should push harder and be assertive or if I should wait.</p>
<p>Do you send the email from your college e-mail address? At some colleges they are not allowed to open e-mails from personal e-mail addresses. Otherwise in this case it is sometimes just better to call. </p>
<p>I also think that, as a matter of smoothing the way, it’s always nice to say something to recognize the possiblity “I hestitated to call bc I don’t want to be annoying” or “I know you guys are super busy”…rather than taking any kind of demanding/what took you so long approach (not that you would, just saying). </p>
<p>As an aid officer, I can tell you that you are not annoying. It definitely can take time before your appeal is read -believe me, even small schools are not ready to entertain appeals for next year (we are all too busy taking care of the current year issues and preparing for normal “next year” stuff) … but it makes sense that you would like to make sure your info was received. Call and ask that question (did you get it?).</p>