What do you do if your email to a professor goes unanswered in a Higher Education setting?

Absolutely double check for mistakes in your first reach out, BUT don't beat yourself up if you made a couple of mistakes. Be bold enough to actually acknowledge it and re-send an updated stellar version.

Aah.... waiting patiently for a response is relative. Sure the 48-72 hours rule is traditionally respectful, but it also depends on the recipient. A day, 2 days, a week? It's relative. Rule of thumb though is to follow up. Let them get annoyed! YOU need an answer right? - Be persistent and don't take it personal if they get "rude" and ask you to stop. Stop and seek out another contact depending on what you are seeking from a professor.

I see this all the time, when students need a recommendation letter from their professor for their university applications. Bear in mind that professors have a lot on their plate - taking classes, grading assignments, planning exams, doing administrative tasks and much more. It is possible that your professor just forgot to answer to you. While following up, make sure you keep these points in mind: 1. Give complete context of your request and the precise action needed from their end. 2. Make it easy for them to complete the action. Need them to fill an online form? Send the link to the form with your follow up and step-by-step instructions. 3. Understand their limitations and be polite while following up.

Rule of thumb will always be to follow up politely. But in that vein of being respectful of their responsibilities, I say follow up a few times and consistently. Some will say that because professors are juggling a lot of things, give them more time, but we all also know that you often prioritize what you see more often - so be polite but persistent.

Said quietly - if you wait only for for office to meet with your professors you may NEVER get to meet with them. Because I have limited office hours for example and they ALWAYS fill up so quickly with more than just student meetings, catching me right after class so that we can have some face-to-face time is often a great way to get some time with me. That is true for many professors and it is likely we may have more time right then, or even schedule out of office hours time that works for both. It's about building the relationship with that professor - use different tactics.

Your professors are your allys - the tough professors, the nice professors, the not so nice professors. Emails not being responded to is more than emails if you ask me. It's about making sure there is a relationship already built with your professors. It is quite likely when there is a relationship built, the rate of responses to emails becomes a non-issue.