Don’t say: “I’m just genuinely so, so sorry. I can’t believe I turned this in late, and you have no idea how long I prepped for this assignment. I really am so sorry that I missed the deadline, and you should know that I will do my best in the future, even when I have tech issues, to not let this happen again. ” Instead say: “I apologize for turning in this assignment late. Know that I take my work seriously and I’ll do my best to avoid this in the future. ”
Don’t say: “Message from a student in Psych 104,” “Need an extension,” or “Hello from Randy Bernard!” Instead say: “Extension Request for Psych104, Paper 2: Randy Bernard”
Use a formal greeting. “Dear Professor James,” and “Professor James,” are perfect. “Hey,” and “Hi,” are too informal and should be avoided. Same goes for your signoff—choose a formal phrase. “Best,” and “Sincerely,” are great picks. If you’re asking your professor for something, be sure to ask, not demand. Instead of saying “I need” an extension, say that an extension would be extremely helpful to you. Remember to use “Please” and “Thank you," too!
This could hurt your relationship and increase penalties on your assignment. So instead, say you’re sorry: “I apologize for my late assignment. I know you’re busy, and I don’t want to waste your time. ” “I’m sorry for this late paper, especially because it communicates a lack of care and concern for my grades that I don’t feel is accurate. ”
“If I had an extra 48 hours to complete this assignment, I’d be able to fully explore and structure my insights for this term paper. ” “I would greatly appreciate an extension on this project. With a little more time, I could turn in my very best work and learn even more from this assignment. "
“Last night, my dog had a bar of chocolate without me realizing. I’ve spent the entire evening with her at the vet. ” “To be entirely honest, I’ve been dealing with some mental health issues that are seriously affecting my schoolwork. " If you can, avoid lying. If you’re granted an extension and the truth comes out later on, you could face major consequences.
Don’t say: “Honestly, it was out of my hands entirely. I’m a victim of circumstance, and that’s why my assignment is late. ” Instead say: “It’s true that I didn’t plan for this to happen. That being said, if I’d started earlier, this wouldn’t have been an issue. So I know, ultimately, this is my fault. I take full responsibility. ”
“This isn’t like me, and in the future, I promise to do better. ” “I take my schoolwork very seriously. If it weren’t for my dog’s illness, I would have made getting this assignment in my top priority. ”
Policies around extensions differ from school to school, but by writing an A+ email, you can only help your chances. Generally, professors only give you an extension under extenuating circumstances, like a major accident. They’re going to be less inclined to extend an assignment if you had competing priorities, like work. Professors are people too, and they want to help! Especially if you don’t have a history of late work, when you plead your case, they may be more forgiving than you’d expect.
Especially if you had a major, unforeseen factor pop up in the final moments before submitting your assignment, you may be able to explain and limit your punishment.
By offering a respectful and honest apology for your late assignment, you can improve your relationship with your professor, earn their respect, and possibly limit your late assignment’s penalties.
