Premature First-Name Basis
Question (and I know it's a little trivial, but I worry about these things):
I sent an email a few days ago to the prof - let's call him Michael Lastname - who contacted me to offer admission to their Ph.D. program (yay!). He offered to answer any questions, so I took him up on it. He replied yesterday and I just want to tell him thanks and ask a few brief follow-ups.
In the original email, I started it "Dear Prof. Lastname." In his reply, he signed it "Mike." In my reply, I started typing "Prof. Lastname" again but it suddenly looked stiff and formal. But taking up his cue and using his first name - especially the nickname version! - feels weird and forward.
I've been in this situation before and never know what to do - what do y'all do when that happens?
I sent an email a few days ago to the prof - let's call him Michael Lastname - who contacted me to offer admission to their Ph.D. program (yay!). He offered to answer any questions, so I took him up on it. He replied yesterday and I just want to tell him thanks and ask a few brief follow-ups.
In the original email, I started it "Dear Prof. Lastname." In his reply, he signed it "Mike." In my reply, I started typing "Prof. Lastname" again but it suddenly looked stiff and formal. But taking up his cue and using his first name - especially the nickname version! - feels weird and forward.
I've been in this situation before and never know what to do - what do y'all do when that happens?