hip2btriangle Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 So all these profs I've been speaking with sign with their first name. Does this mean I should not address them as Prof. X? I've always been pretty hyper respectful of titles in academia, so obviously I don't want to make a mistake when I meet these folks at open house. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewurgler Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I notice lots of them sign with the first name as well, but I am not going to use their first name until I meet them in person. After a visit and if they continue to sign with the first name, then I will do the same. I would just not feel comfortable until I meet them and "feel them out." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothy Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I always address professors by their first name, something about "Dr. Surname" just feels like high school to me... but then again I probably do have a bit of that sense of entitlement undergrads feel that was recently discussed in another part of this forum. So if you do go with first names, you're definitely not alone - the only circumstance in which I would address someone as Dr. or Professor would be if they addressed an email to me with Mr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bold_brew Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I'm hyper-sensitive about the title thing, too -- but only because I know some professors, regardless of signature, are hyper-sensitive about it themselves. I'm a fan of addressing them as Prof. Surname (especially in person) until I am corrected to do otherwise. I've had one situation where a professor insisted I call her by her first name; but I also had a professor who signed her e-mail "Prof. Surname" after I addressed her by her first name. I took that as a hint. It's better to be over-respectful than not respectful enough, especially when you're trying to woo potential advisors at an Open House. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardboiledegg Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I always address a professor from a prospective school as "Dr. 'Surname'" because I don't have a relationship with them enough to feel comfortable with a first name address. Just me though... do what you like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migrationdude Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I've also hyper-analyzed this. I always address someone completely unknown by their title + last name. If they reply and sign with their first name only, I will start addressing them by their first name. My reasoning is that I will only go as far as they are comfortable without being overly formal; at the same time (and this has not happened so far), should a professor get upset by my (otherwise invited) lack of formality, I would have serious doubts as to whether I could work with this person anyway. I guess I risk being "put in my place" by someone eventually, but this has not happened so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rejectedloser Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 "Professor" is the most formal; "Dr." second most". I usually go with the former. The tacit rule is NEVER address a professor by their first name, except if they tell you it's ok. I've had uncomfortable experiences when I didn't follow this "rule". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterpat Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I always go with Professor X by default. Seems like a lot of Sociology professors don't make much of their titles though. Some do, but I feel like most of mine wanted or at least allowed students to address them by their first name. The people who become sociologists seem to often be the "question authority"/"hierarchy sucks" type, so I think that might be why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rejectedloser Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 And how would you like to be addressed, misterpat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bold_brew Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 "Professor" is the most formal; "Dr." second most". I usually go with the former. The tacit rule is NEVER address a professor by their first name, except if they tell you it's ok. I've had uncomfortable experiences when I didn't follow this "rule". So you became self-disciplined when you did not acquiesce to the established norm. 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rejectedloser Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 You used too many big words in one sentence. Hmm that's why I keep getting rejected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejuliast Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 I always address someone completely unknown by their title + last name. If they reply and sign with their first name only, I will start addressing them by their first name. I do this too. I've yet to run into any uncomfortable situations with this "rule of thumb", but there's always a first time I guess... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyghtfalls Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Technically, if you haven't accepted the offer to attend their school all professors should remain Professor (fill in blank). We don't really know them yet. Or I could just be conservative that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkle456 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 There's another forum on this in Waiting it out, I think. I always figured that Dr. was the most formal and so when I don't know the professor, I just put "Dear Dr. X". In UG, after that initial email or if I had already spoke with them, I always put "Hi First Name." I've never had a problem w/this and honestly, if a prof. questioned this, I would not be too thrilled to work with them. Also, looking forward, I'd feel so uncomfortable w/people calling me "doctor." I guess I feel like that is reserved for MD's or distinguished professors (and that's why I'll email potential grad advisers using "Dr." I'd feel comfortable w/my first name but Professor is also a nice gesture/sign of respect. I think this is an interesting post, in that I wonder how the next generation of college students will handle formalities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hip2btriangle Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 It also just occurred to me that this might be a funny thread for people who aren't studying in the U.S. I was abroad in London for a year during undergrad and addressed teachers as Prof. X. A history professor of mine, new to the department, laughed and corrected me. She said that it's only Americans who address every college teacher as professor -- in England, the term is only used for distinguished teachers. Over there apparently you just use Dr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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