What if you don't reply to POI's email encouraging you to ask any questions?!

[klader]

Hi there,

We have a lot of threads on this forum about professors not replying to our emails, but what about when WE don't reply to THEIRS?!

So, I was accepted to this one school back a couple weeks ago. I got the initial acceptance email from the DGS and promptly responded with the "Thank you for the generous offer; I will consider it and let you know of my decision as soon as I can" type of thing. A few days later I got another email from a professor in the department saying that he was glad to see that I was admitted, that he hoped I would accept the offer, that I could take one of his classes in the fall if I decided to attend, and that I could ask him (or any other faculty) any questions that I had. He also provided some information about the program, so I kind of feel like it was a follow up to my original acceptance email.

Now, the thing is I was literally GEEKED because this is a prof I really would like to work with and I was kind of fangirling, so I didn't respond right away. It's now been eleven days, though, and I realize that I should have initially replied with something like "Thank you so much! I'll be sure to let you know if I have any questions."  

I probably DO have a couple questions I could ask him now, so should I reply to the email with something like "Thank you so much! I'm sorry for the delay, but I was waiting until I had some good questions for you. I'm very interested in this program, and I was wondering how I could BLAH BLAH BLAH and I wonder how other grad students BLAH BLAH BLAH" or something? I'm stressing over this way more than I should be, but I think it's because this program is one of my top choices and I don't want to make it look like I'm blowing them off (because I DID get back to them right away saying that I appreciated their offer and I AM attending the open house).

Also, since the open house is coming up soon, should I even bother emailing him? Should I just seek him out in person instead?

Advice/opinions/anecdotes/etc. would be appreciated!

Edited February 26, 2016 by klader

[knp]

Send the email! Your template is good. (Also that you look forward to seeing him at the open house.) Send it!

[fuzzylogician]

Do it! Otherwise you'll continue stressing up until you actually meet him at the open house. Your wording is fine. 

[TakeruK]

I agree with the others---send the email! Have a good visit

[klader]

I sent it!! I'm getting paranoid now and am worrying that he'll think I'm rude for not responding for so long, but I think I wrote my reply kindly enough, and I did ask some good questions.

Thanks for the input!

[fuzzylogician]

It happens to all of us that a ball somehow gets dropped and an email goes unanswered for longer than it should. I wouldn't worry too much, I'd only recommend responding promptly to any reply you get, even if it's just "Thanks! Looking forward to my visit."