Do I call a Prof by hist first name?

[argos]

Hi everybody,

I recently started looking for a PhD position in America, and thus contacted a couple of professors I'd really like to work with. In one case I got a very quick, positive reply. What startled me, however was that the professor I contacted signed the email by only his first name.

As I am not too familiar with American politeness rules and obviously at this stage do not want to offend anybody at all, does that mean I am now allowed to call him by his first name (e.g. Dear John, ...), or should I better stick with "Dear Dr / Prof Smith"? (And which of these two would you prefer in case you didn't know the person?) I'm asking because of in the part of Europe where I come from academia is pretty hierarchical, I.e. typically you are only allowed to call people by their first name when you know them reasonably well...

Thanks for your answers.

[rogue]

There's a helpful thread about this on CHE:

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/t ... 705.0.html

In general, I'd say stick with Dr. X or Professor Y. It's probably safer.

[swisnieski]

Like the poster in the linked thread said, always better to err on the side of formality and have a professor tell you his preference ("please, just call me Bob") than informality and receive a slight scolding ("That's Dr. Johnson").

[rainy_day]

Sadly that article is locked content.

I think that if someone signs their email with only their first name, it is an indication that they are not as formal. I am not in grad school yet, but for work I am constantly visiting and emailing professors, and if they consistently reply to me with their first name, after about 3-5 emails I usually start using their first name, too.

[purplepepper]

Do not call a professor by his/her first name unless they explicitly tell you to do so. It may sound repetitive but in emails, especially before you meet him/her in person always address an email as Dear Dr/Professor X.

Some profs might not notice if you use their first name, but for some, without permission, it could really piss them off even if they do sign emails by their first name.

[belowthree]

Follow the phdcomics flowchart:

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive ... micid=1153

Also no one ever got annoyed at someone being too formal. It's a good thing if they correct you and tell you to call them by their first name. They usually will if it's okay.

A lot of it depends on the character of the institution and the school and the field. Usually if you have to ask then don't bother and just stick with the formal title. That said, I've been calling my professors by their first name for ages, so... it really varies.

[canuckle]

While initially I might be tempted to go with the classic "Dr./ Professor so-and-so", and probably would do so for the first one or two communiques, I would quickly go to the first name basis. My reasoning is this:

If you've said/written it once or twice then they know that you're being polite, and have made an effort to do so. At some point though, relatively quickly, you ought to acknowledge that when you are a grad student you are (hopefully) being talked to as an adult and a future peer. Continually reverting to "Dr. so-and-so" gets an idea in your head that you are subordinate, your ideas are less worthy, etc., and you'll behave like it. You probably have something to learn--certainly, as do we all--but I think students should be working towards being a peer, not mindless 'yes-men' unquestionably bowing to titles and authority. One can be respectful without using titles, and I would hope that most people are respectful to others regardless of whether they have a title or not.

That said, I would exercise caution. But to be quite frank, I wouldn't really want to work with someone who was enough of a douche to make me call him/ her "Dr. So-and-So". These are just my thoughts though, your mileage may vary.

[Postbib Yeshuist]

Never use a first name unless it's explicitly stated to do so. I know several professors who use pre-made sig lines and don't even realize it always says "Bob." I also know of more than one professor who gets annoyed when a student moves too quickly to a "personal" mode of address. First names are for close acquaintances/friends or situations where there is not a power differential. When contacted a professor, realize that neither of those conditions exist. Remember, they've worked harder to earn their title than you have worked to not use it.

In the end, it's your choice, but an error on the side of formality will never hurt. An error on the side of familiarity may cost you an acceptance letter (or worse).

[aragona36]

I am an Adcomm and my advice is to call them by their first name at your own peril. Always address a professor by Dr. X or Professor X unless they give you permission to do otherwise.

A recent example. I was copied on a response to an email where the applicant began Hello "Jim" and "Bob." I am a prospective applicant and am interested in meeting with you on Friday .... Jim and Bob! I asked "Jim" if he knew her and he did not. He didn't care for her overly casual greeting, either. I know I didn't care for it. "Jim" and "Bob" are not just ordinary professors at my institution, they are famous and important people (in more than just the department, they are world renown in their field and by lay people who track this field, i.e. they give autographs to people).

Her application is tainted by her casual references....and not in a good way.

[profound_g]

I've received about 10 replays by now. Almost nobody signs "Dr. Lastname". Some use their full name without the title, some just a shortened version of their first. I keep referring to them as Dr. Lastname. So far nobody complained