Email Professionalism ?

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GravityDefier

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The title says it all. I tried to search but no threads mentioned this. How professional should the email I use to communicate with school during the application cycle be ? Obviously I cannot use something like [email protected]. But, is something like [email protected] ok ? I tried to register for something more professional like [email protected] but it is impossible to register without attaching numbers at the end of the name to make it unique. Is the format first name, last name, number at an informal domain like gmail acceptable ? Or do I have to use my school email without numbers attached to name and with an .edu domain ? The problem with my school email is it is quite terrible compared to gmail. Thanks !
 
GravityDefier said:
The title says it all. I tried to search but no threads mentioned this. How professional should the email I use to communicate with school during the application cycle be ? Obviously I cannot use something like [email protected]. But, is something like [email protected] ok ? I tried to register for something more professional like [email protected] but it is impossible to register without attaching numbers at the end of the name to make it unique. Is the format first name, last name, number at an informal domain like gmail acceptable ? Or do I have to use my school email without numbers attached to name and with an .edu domain ? The problem with my school email is it is quite terrible compared to gmail. Thanks !
Click to expand...

Gmail with some version of your name is fine. Don't stress the small stuff. They're not going to build an entire characterization of you based on your email account. As long as it's appropriate, they don't care.

Have you tried adding the middle initial/middle name to your gmail account? like [email protected] or [email protected]. Just a thought. Edit: Also, underscores can give you a lot_of_mileage. Also, try lastname.firstname. If you have a really common name, none of this will help of course, in which case numbers are fine.
 
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GravityDefier said:
The title says it all. I tried to search but no threads mentioned this. How professional should the email I use to communicate with school during the application cycle be ? Obviously I cannot use something like [email protected]. But, is something like [email protected] ok ? I tried to register for something more professional like [email protected] but it is impossible to register without attaching numbers at the end of the name to make it unique. Is the format first name, last name, number at an informal domain like gmail acceptable ? Or do I have to use my school email without numbers attached to name and with an .edu domain ? The problem with my school email is it is quite terrible compared to gmail. Thanks !
Click to expand...

That gmail with numbers is plenty acceptable. Not everyone who applies has access to a .edu account so I'm sure schools are used to gmail, yahoo, etc. As long as your emal isn't obnoxious no one should care.
 
It's not a problem if there are numbers, everyone knows that it's pretty much impossible to get a gmail with your name any more. Just be sure it's some version of your name and/or initials. I got lucky, because I opened up a gmail account years ago...I was able to get [email protected]. No one can really do that anymore unless you have a ridiculously unique name.
 
Thank goodness for a unique last name as I have always been able to get [email protected] and/or [email protected]

And I always try to keep all of those emails to myself anyways so I try and keep up with the upcoming trends and just swoop them even if I'm not going to use them as my primary account 😀
 
GravityDefier said:
The title says it all. I tried to search but no threads mentioned this. How professional should the email I use to communicate with school during the application cycle be ? Obviously I cannot use something like [email protected]. But, is something like [email protected] ok ? I tried to register for something more professional like [email protected] but it is impossible to register without attaching numbers at the end of the name to make it unique. Is the format first name, last name, number at an informal domain like gmail acceptable ? Or do I have to use my school email without numbers attached to name and with an .edu domain ? The problem with my school email is it is quite terrible compared to gmail. Thanks !
Click to expand...

Why in the world would you even think that something like [email protected] would not be OK? Just use common sense and judgement, something you will need plenty of for a career in medicine anyway.
 
TheMightySmiter said:
It's not a problem if there are numbers, everyone knows that it's pretty much impossible to get a gmail with your name any more. Just be sure it's some version of your name and/or initials. I got lucky, because I opened up a gmail account years ago...I was able to get [email protected]. No one can really do that anymore unless you have a ridiculously unique name.
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Unless you're like me and the only one in the world with your name. Score!
 
Keep in mind that with Gmail you can use periods. Many, many of my classmates use one of the following formats for Gmail (and I'm assuming this is the same format they used for applications):

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Personally I always thought numbers in e-mail addresses were a bit childish, but if you can't get an address without using some then you have no choice.
 
Thank you everyone for your very helpful comments. I have tried all the combinations of dot or underscore with my first, middle/middle initial, and last name but none worked. All have been taken. I am left with only two choices: either attach numbers to my name or use the crappy school email. But as everyone has reassured that numbers are still fine for application purposes (although appear a little childish), I will probably continue to stick with the gmail format I'm currently having above. Thanks for the fast responses !
 
OP, considering that aol is fairly unused these days, virtually any email address on there should be available to you.

Then again, you could be seen by AdComs as a person with very, very, very poor judgment. I mean, who in the world still uses aol?!
 
May be able to get a new apple @me.com account
 
DOCBERT said:
This is great! :laugh:

What's the easiest way to identify a non-trad?
His AOL e-mail address.
Click to expand...

35hjeg.jpg
 
DAPI said:
May be able to get a new apple @me.com account
Click to expand...

I just got an @me.com email in the form of [email protected] and am very happy about it.

I had the same format for a yahoo email, but I've always preferred gmail because I think yahoo doesn't sound as professional. Just personal preference.
 
Bro Dude said:
35hjeg.jpg
Click to expand...

Love it.

I'd personally go with the domain registering. It's cheap, professional, and you can just put a random blog about cooking, adventure or whatnot on the domain. Not your last call at the bar during July 4th.

Plus it may be useful if you choose to pursue clinical practice and want a website, voila you have one already!
 
Bro Dude said:
OP, considering that aol is fairly unused these days, virtually any email address on there should be available to you.

Then again, you could be seen by AdComs as a person with very, very, very poor judgment. I mean, who in the world still uses aol?!
Click to expand...

You stole my comment!

I've thrown away more than one business card from someone who wanted to work with me because it had an aol.com address. I'm in IT for ****'s sake!
 
DOCBERT said:
This is great! :laugh:

What's the easiest way to identify a non-trad?
His AOL e-mail address.
Click to expand...

🙄
orlly? My gmail is:

[email protected]

Right or wrong, nontrads get a lot more slack from adcoms when it comes to professionalism. Nobody forgets my gmail account, and most laugh when they learn what it is. We do gmail. In style.



Sent from my phone
 
I use [email protected] - have you tried that? I don't know if that's acceptable either, though I hope so! I've had a lot of issues with firstname.lastname variations because my name is so short that it doesn't hit the 6 char limit when signing up for anything -__-
 
Mine is [email protected]
So like.. [email protected] or whatever. I feel like that is fairly professional, especially because my name is incredibly common (first, middle, and last -- both separate and in combination). Hopefully that's not looked down upon as childish or anything! I really have pretty much no other option as far as unique configurations without numbers go.
 
Unless it's offensive or insanely childish, no one is going to care. If it *is* one of those two, spend 2 minutes and get a new address and only use that one for your professional interactions. It's not like gmail limits you to one account. I personally have two addresses that I use in this manner, makes it easier to keep up with work/school related stuff because all my spam goes to the other box. This seriously may be the most neurotic thread I've seen on SDN, and that's saying a LOT.
 
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