Academic Success Series
Academic Success Center
UNLV
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How to create positive first impressions
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Classroom etiquette
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Speaking to your professor
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How to write an email
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What is networking?
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Networking and internet presence
Consider the following questions and then fill in your best guess:
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It takes 30 seconds to make a first impression.
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It takes approximately 20 more meetings to change/undo a bad first impression.
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55% of our message is through our body language.
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38% of our message is through our tone.
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7% of our message is though our words.
Source: http://civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/FirstImpressionsGreetingsNames.pdf
So what goes into first impressions?
How do you want
people to see you?
 Appearance
o Clothing
o Context
 Demeanor
 How
you communicate
what’s important?
o Body language
o What has your attention?
WHAT YOU KNOW VS. WHAT YOU PRACTICE:
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Arrive on time
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Eliminate distractions
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Don’t have side conversations
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Don’t do other work
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Don’t ask if something will be on the test!
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Don’t ask if you missed anything important!
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Don’t be an NSHE number!
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Common courtesy
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Professors vs. high school teachers
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Office hours
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What do they do/study?
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Be aware of your surroundings
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Subject
 Clear and meaningful
 Ex: Internship at U of X Summer 2015
Greeting
 Appropriate and professional
 Ex: Dear Professor/Dr. X/Ms. So and So/Mr. Y, Hello, Good morning
Message
 Brief and polite
 All relevant information included
 Reiterate the subject
Closing
 Say thank you
Signature
 Professional signatures clarify who you are
 First and last name
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Use your UNLV email
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Timeliness/Being considerate
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When asking for help, offer a solution
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Check your spelling and grammar!
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Provide times of availability – Email can be a slow process.
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Acknowledge replies, email back a thank you.
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Follow up.
Source: http://www.wikihow.com/email-a-Professor
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ACTIVITY: We are going to play
“What’s Wrong With It?”
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The presenter will read a sample email
and ask for feedback regarding:
 What parts of the email are missing?
 How the content could be improved?
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The student was responding to an email sent by his
Academic Coach that provided handouts on workshops and
resources on Study Skills and Test Anxiety:
From: ([email protected])
Date: Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 6:20PM
Subject: Re: Success Series and Test Anxiety Workshops
To: [email protected]
you rite cause i actually got anxiety rite now lmao
(No name)
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What’s wrong with this email?
How could we improve his response?
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This student emailed their Academic Success Coach asking
for a reference:
From: ([email protected])
Date: Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 8:46 AM
Subject: Reference
To: [email protected]
Hey I was wandering if I could use you as a reference? I would need
your phone number that’s it. Thank you!
(No name)
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What’s wrong with this email?
How should you request a reference? What do you need to
provide?
 Scenarios:
o You have just applied for an internship and want to list
your professor as a reference. How would you email that
person?
o You are interested in other opportunities to work with a
professor, such as research. How would you phrase the
email?
o From:
o Subject:
o Body:
o Signature:
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Be prepared for your phone call
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Answer the phone appropriately
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Clearly express what you need in order to reach the right
person
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Leave a professional voicemail
 Phone #: Say it twice
 Spell your name (even the “easy” ones)
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Why these relationships matter
o Approach all situations with good intentions and a positive attitude,
and you will be surprised how it benefits you later.
• Job References
• Help with grades/absences
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Maintaining a network and public persona
o LinkedIn, Academia.edu, Facebook, Twitter
o Google yourself
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Get involved (community or school)
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Use resources available to you
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Academic Success Series
UNLV, Academic Success Center