For most college students, the scariest part about the college experience is deadlines and navigating these deadlines with a busy schedule. Why are deadlines so soon or so far away? How much time do I need to work on this assignment to complete it in time? We have all asked these questions to ourselves when faced with a deadline. Some of us get it done immediately, and some procrastinate until the last second because we know we can hand it in by midnight on Friday. However, sometimes Friday arrives, and we are nowhere near completing our assignment. This is one such instance that you should ask your professor for an extension.

An extension on an assignment is exactly what it sounds like. It is when you ask your professor or instructor to accept your work later than the specified deadline, whether or not that deadline appears on your course's syllabus. Though it might not feel like something you can do, you have the right to at least ask. There is no set number of days that an extension generally entails. Normally, you or your professor will specify the number of extra days past the deadline to complete your assignment. Sometimes if you are in a tough spot, which I will spell out later, you might get a few extra weeks, or you might even need to take an incomplete in the course if the assignment is a major one worth most of your final grade. Whatever the case, try to work on your assignment diligently until it is completed if you just happen to get an extension.

Though there is nothing set in stone for when an extension is to be asked for, there are still some more innate reasons that your request might be successful. Because of this, there is no guarantee that you will receive an extension just because you have the courage to ask. Your best bet is to check your course's syllabus and see if your professor has anything specifically discussing the use of extensions. Typically, the best way to ensure you get an extension is if something major comes up within your life that is out of your control. This might include a severe illness (especially if you have spent time in the hospital), the death of a loved one (though you might have to provide proof of this), or other significant life occurrences. Most professors, believe it or not, have a heart and will understand your situation.

Alongside the more obvious reasons to ask for an extension, you might have forgotten about the assignment or procrastinated too long to the point where getting the assignment done is not at all possible. Whatever the reason is, you will want to send an email that is kind, understanding, and possibly a little beg-worthy. When crafting this email, you should apologize upfront. You might state whatever the reason is that you are asking for an extension. Then, you may say that you understand if an extension cannot be granted and that you will turn in what you have on the deadline, even if it's incomplete. To end the email, you might want to thank them for the time it took to read the email and respond to you. In this situation, as well as many other important situations, kindness is key and will get you a lot further.

Once you have written your email, you should have your answer soon on whether you will receive an extension. If you do, great! If the professor does not give you a set amount of time to hand it in, offer a reasonable date yourself. This shows them that you have plans to finish your assignment and are not putting it off until later. On the other hand, you might not get your extension approved. It is not the end of the world if this happens to you. Just try your best to get what you can done and hand it in by the deadline. Partial work is better than a zero.