<p>I live outside US, so I found email more convinient compared to international calls for contacting admissions.</p>
<p>The thing is, I've googled and searched cc for how to ask questions via email, but I was still not sure about the "proper" format... Sure, I do get that you should NEVER include chat abbreviations (duh!), keep it simple, and maintain some sort of politeness.</p>
<p>So, how direct should the email be? What about the titles/names?
Should you introduce yourself? How long exactly does "keep it simple" means? </p>
<p>What would an appropriate template look like?</p>
<p>ex) </p>
<p>Dear Mr./Mrs.</p>
<p>I found your school interesting blahblah(some sort of intro/showing interest-or knock it off?)
I have few questions that I were not able to find through school website.(reason)
If my school has a different GPA system, blahblahblah (quesion)
Thank you for your time blahblah(some sort of appreciation)</p>
<p>Sincerely,
Lolononojo</p>
<p>Think of the overall format as that of a business letter. That means good quality, formal English with proper spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.</p>
<p>If you can identify the specific admissions person who will be dealing with your application, then address it personally to that person and send it to that person’s email. If not, then start the (first) letter with, “Dear Sir or Madam” Subsequent emails can be addressed to the person who answered your first one if it’s clear that person is an admissions councilor instead of a secretary.</p>
<p>A brief introduction is all that’s needed on the first email: “My name is Your Name and I am interested in applying to Your University. I will be an international applicant since I live in NAME OF COUNTRY, and I have some questions about <your university=”" or=“” the=“” application=“” process=“”>."</your></p>
<p>Then list the questions starting each question on a new line. Try to not overwhelm the person on the first email—ask the most critical questions that you need to have answered right now. Try to limit it to no more than 3 or 4 questions at most.</p>
<p>End the letter with something like, “Thank you for your help.” and then sign the letter with
“Sincerely, Your Name”</p>
<p>Once you have the answers to those questions, you’ll usually have the name and email address of the person who is the admissions councilor for your region (in your case, the international councilor) and you can address subsequent email to that person. In each email you should remind the admissions person of who you are very briefly. (“My name is YOUR NAME and I am applying from YOUR COUNTRY” will probably be enough to jog the person’s mind enough to make them look up both your file and any previous email correspondence.)</p>
<p>When you write make sure that you aren’t wasting the admissions officers’ time by asking questions that are answered on their web site.</p>
<p>Robinsuesanders gave you a complete answer to your question.</p>
<p>Please also keep in mind my answer. Admissions counselors are very busy and get irritated when students ask questions that are answered on the college’s web site or seem to be asking questions just to try to stand out in admissions. Stand out in admissions by the content of your application.</p>
<p>Yes, I did see many posts and articles warning not to “misuse” emails to admissions counselors with intention of trying to stand out or suck up. To some, I guess it’s just doesn’t seem like a common sense.</p>
<p>Nah- I won’t be doing that. :D</p>
<p>As you pointed out,NOW, I do believe that my question has been answered completely</p>
<p>Thank you all for detailed answers and tips!</p>