<p>This doesn't have to directly with college admissions, because I'm a high school sophomore who is emailing professors about research. Should I address the professor as "Dr." if he/she has a Ph.D., or is "Professor" more appropriate? Can I address all professors as "Professor" or is there a better word?</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<p>Dear ____________ Smith,
I have a question about...etc.</p>
<p>“Professor Smith” is the norm though “Dr. Smith” also is fine.</p>
<p>If the person is at a school of any decent standing use “professor.”</p>
<p>If the person is at a school where not all associate, assistant, and full professors have terminal degrees (e.g. doctorates), refer to the person as Dr. Lastname. </p>
<p>There was a study, which I can’t find at the moment, where an organization called professors at a time where they would obviously not be in their office, and noted that professors at lower-tier schools where more likely to refer themselves as Dr. Lastname than Professor Lastname in their voicemail message, presumably in order to differentiate themselves from instructors who have a masters degree. My mother quoted a colleague several years ago as saying, “I don’t know what the big deal is about having a PhD–all my friends have one.”</p>
<p>At my recognizable-on-CC undergraduate college, everyone went by their social title (Miss, Mr., Mrs., Ms.) from the president of the college on down to the maintenance staff. It took me ages to learn to use “Professor” or “Dr.” at the next university I attended!</p>
<p>When in doubt start with “Professor Smith” unless you know the person has a Ph.D. In that case, you could start with “Dr. Smith” instead.</p>
<p>"and noted that professors at lower-tier schools where more likely to refer themselves as Dr. Lastname than Professor Lastname in their voicemail message, presumably in order to differentiate themselves from instructors who have a masters degree. "</p>
<p>This makes sense to me. I’ve noticed that the lower the tier or the general socicoeconomic group, the more people with doctorates use their “Dr.” title even socially with peers their age.</p>
<p>The higher the status of the institution or the general community, the more people are likely to go by first names with their peer group and with grad students (and in some cases, even with undergraduates). Why? Everyone has doctorates, so having a doctorate is no big deal. </p>
<p>The mom running the PTA has an endowed chair in finance, the scruffy guy in overalls digging the church vegetable garden is an agriculture professor, and the beautiful woman demonstrating ballroom dance at the community festival has a doctorate in philosophy. Their contributions are what’s important to them, not their titles.</p>
<p>For someone you don’t know well, I think “Professor X” is the best approach. I find it so odd when my students call me “Mrs. X” - I immediately think, “no, that’s my mother!”</p>
<p>Since the people you will be contacting have a Phd, I would use either Doctor X or Professor X, the former if they are not actual professors. When I don’t know if the person has a Phd, I use Instructor X in e-mails, Doctor in person, but it is rare for me not to know somebody’s title before I formally meet them. When I took community college classes, the instructors had us call them by their first names, which became a habit that is hard to forgetr now that I go to a university. After your first contact, check their e-mail signature, that’s usually what they want to be called.</p>
<p>When I was at Cornell last summer, my adviser recommended we address the faculty with “Professor” and not “Dr.” The reason he gave was that it takes a lot more to get a professorship than a PhD, and we should recognize that achievement. Apparently some professors (at Cornell at least) are rather particular about their professor status, and lower ranked faculty can live with “Professor XYZ” just fine as well.</p>
<p>I actually have recently had a discussion on the Professor vs. Dr. thing, and I believe (though am not certain) that it is regional. I go to school in Arizona, and everyone here calls the professors “Dr.” This is what they call themselves as well. I believe, though am not certain, that Dr. is the common form of reference in the Midwest as well, but I have a friend that goes to school in the Northwest where Professor is the common term. So, do you have any idea which is the common address where you are? (And if the person has a doctorate, of course.)</p>
<p>"When I don’t know if the person has a Phd, I use Instructor X in e-mails, "</p>
<p>I don’t suggest using, “Instructor X.” An instructor is the lowest rung in academia, and typically is for grad students and for people who lack doctorates. Most professors would be insulted to be called “instructor.” Instructors, though, would be flattered to be called, “professor,” so use the “professor” title for all.</p>
<p>And I don’t know of any grad students that would be preferred to be called Instructor instead of their first name. As someone said above, if I’m ever called Mr. Reaver by someone I get confused since, well, that’s my dad.</p>
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<p>Either look at the department they’re from, and it should have a vitae or some sort of background. Failing that, find the catalog online and go to the last few pages where it lists staff and faculty.</p>
<p>At University of Chicago, Dr.'s are MDs. </p>
<p>On an aside, my brother-in-law is an English PhD and insists mail be addressed to Dr. & Mrs. __<strong><em>. I fully intend to RTS any letter I get from him that doesn’t address me as _</em></strong> _____, Esq. when I get my JD.</p>
<p>My hubby’s boss is a retired general with some sort of terminal doctoral degree. Since he retired, his wife has had everything printed with Dr. and Mrs. ____. Hubby and I are amused. </p>
<p>Good advice about looking in the catalog for rank/degree. You can always make it easy on yourself and call the department!</p>
<p>The safest title is “professor.” I don’t think it can ever offend any college professor.</p>
<p>^^^The more I consider it, “professor” does seem to be the best choice to use unless informed otherwise.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your advice! I ended up going with “Professor” for most of the professors (who I found via a faculty list on the university websites) like you suggested and used “Dr.” for the professors with Ph.D.s, since I thought it wouldn’t hurt since I know a few Ph.D.s who go by “Dr.” as titles.</p>