<p>if you have a question to ask the Office of Admissions, how do you start the email?</p>
<p>Dear University of blah?
Dear Sir/Madam</p>
<p>also how do you end it?</p>
<p>Sincerely,......
Thank you.</p>
<p>????? help!</p>
<p>Unless I know the name exactly, I usually say "Dear Admissions Office/Committee".</p>
<p>I end with "Thank you"</p>
<p>I usually contact the local admissions rep.</p>
<p>I don't bother with Sir/Madam/etc.</p>
<p>I just write,</p>
<p>Hi:</p>
<p>and write the message.</p>
<p>I just say 'thanks'</p>
<p>If it's just a general question or comment to an unknown person, i.e. <a href="mailto:admission@stanford.edu">admission@stanford.edu</a>, just start with something simple like:</p>
<p>Greetings!, Good morning!, Good afternoon!, Hello!</p>
<p>Keep the message short and to the point. People are busy and don't have time to read your life story, as a general e-mail box like this probably receives 100+ messages a day.</p>
<p>If you are writing someone with a name, i.e. the Dean of Admissions or a known staff person, then address the message:</p>
<p>Dear Dean xxxx, Dr. xxxx or Mr./Mrs./Ms. xxxx</p>
<p>End the message with a simple "thank you" or "thanks for your assistance" and your name, phone #, e-mail address and/or USPS mailing address, as is appropriate.</p>
<p>The bottom line is, keep everything short and simple!</p>
<p>I always start mine with 'To Whom It May Concern' and end with 'Thank you for all your help. Sincerely, (insert name)'</p>
<p>wow! thank you for all the advice.</p>
<p>DS has used "Dear (name of college) Admissions Staff"</p>