A college senior reached out to me via email, excited to discuss my advocacy project after my lecture, but I haven’t heard back in several days. How long should I typically wait for a response from a college student in the week leading up to spring break?
I’m a grad student who recently presented at a national conference aimed at college students. After my talk, a senior expressed great enthusiasm about connecting and emailed me two days later to share how significant the topic is to her. She wanted to arrange a conversation for the following week, coinciding with spring break, as she has a training session on the topic planned for two student groups in March. I responded promptly on Tuesday evening with several days/times for a chat next week, but I haven’t received any response since.
What do you think might be going on? Should I wait until next week to follow up, or should I assume she’s no longer interested for some reason?
It sounds like a frustrating situation, especially since the senior initially expressed such enthusiasm about your project. However, the week before spring break can be hectic for college students, with many trying to wrap up assignments, prepare for the break, or attend to personal matters.
It’s possible that she’s simply been busy or overwhelmed with her own commitments. In college, students sometimes find it challenging to manage their time effectively, especially during busy periods.
I would recommend giving her a little more time, perhaps until mid-next week after spring break, before assuming she’s no longer interested. If you don’t hear back by then, it might be worth sending a gentle follow-up email. Express your continued interest in connecting and ask if she’d still like to chat. This approach keeps the door open and lets her know you’re still interested without putting pressure on her.