<p>So I made an appointment last week with a professor on campus to discuss research, and he offered me a volunteer position in his lab. The emails setting up this appointment took about 2 days.</p>
<p>Now, the appointment was on Thursday. He told me to create a Dropbox account and let him know, and then he would send me the primary literature. He also wanted me to let him know when I was available in his lab. I sent him this information on Thursday afternoon, and he still hasn't replied.</p>
<p>I think it’s OK to send him another email at this point. Professors really are busy, and if you sent him the info last week and he didn’t get a chance to put the info in the dropbox then, it’s totally possible it slipped his mind since then. I think you’re still at the level of “persisent” not yet “nagging.”
Sometimes professors want the reminders. I asked one professor for a letter of recommentation, and he specifically asked me to send him an email every week until the deadline so he wouldn’t forget.</p>
<p>Of course after posting this, I saw him in the hallway today and he told me he hadnt forgotten. Hes just been extrenely busy and he said he would probably reply this afternoon. (Which didnt happen, but hey… making progress!)</p>
<p>I seriously laugh when they say that. He is so busy that he cannot write a 1min email? I just cannot stand when “profesars” behave like they are the ultimate bosses, who can do whatever they want. </p>
<p>He is so so busy; but does he go to the bathroom? does he eat lunch? does he talk to his wife? Seriously, this is just pathetic…</p>
<p>How does this sound? (I’ve never been so nervous about angering a professor before lol)</p>
<p>"Dr. XXXX:</p>
<p>Sorry to bother you again, but I just wanted to resend the information I emailed last week in case it has slipped your mind. I hope I’m not being too much of a nuisance; I am really excited about this research though! If you would rather discuss schedules in your office, just let me know when to come in and I’ll be there. (The rest of this email is simply what I’ve already sent in case you need it again.)"</p>
<p>I think that’s good. I don’t know why the email you sent would anger him. You weren’t rude or anything like that, the email you just sent is just a reminder, so no need to be worried.</p>
<p>I had this professor who NEVER emailed me back, and another took so long to email me back and the issues were already resolved (meaning I found the answers from someone else). Some professors are just plain rude and really don’t care about the students, some are REALLY busy. It seems like your professor is the “really busy” type.</p>
<p>In defense of professors, they have an exorbitant amount of things that they have to and that they’re responsible for, so taking their time to get back to someone isn’t unheard of and certainly is understandable. Like another poster said, they usually appreciate it when they get sent a reminder and usually reply fairly quickly. </p>
<p>That email looks good, OP. You made it very polite and eager yet still respectful and understanding. </p>
<p>And yes, professors take time to eat lunch, go to the bathroom and talk to their wives, but don’t you ever take small amounts of time to yourself and do you honestly think about your professors/classmates 24/7? It does go both ways (just saying). </p>
<p>My mother is a professor, and I can say from experience that she often spends downtime at home with the family with her cell phone or ipad in her hand responding to emails. But like most people, she puts it aside on weekends to live her life, and sometimes she forgets things and rushes to try and correct them. </p>
<p>It happens, but they’re usually pretty good about getting stuff done eventually.</p>
<p>I don’t. Because, unlike professors, I don’t earn 250-350k a year for showing powerpoint slides two times a week. </p>
<p>As to OP, why professor is slow? The answer is obvious; they are busy buying their new multi-million dollar mansions and luxury cars. Professors’ greed just makes my skin crawl.</p>
<p>I don’t know what kind of professors you’re referring to, but it’s certainly not the vast majority of them. Divide that pay by 1/3 (or more) and put in much more work and sweat and devotion, and you’ve got your typical tenured professor. </p>
<p>And let’s not even go into the ill situation of the adjuncts.</p>
<p>EDIT: just read romani’s post, and indeed you must be a ■■■■■. At least I hope you are because if not, America is severely unrealistic and out of touch with what professors do and what they get paid.</p>
If yahoo is representative, most Americans think: Chem & Bio degrees have better job prospects than Accounting & Stat, Humanities degrees are useless, Ivys charge everyone (including people under the poverty line) 60k a year, and everyone who goes to college has taken out 200k in student loans.</p>