The template
Subject: Quick question from a [school] [year] student.
Hi [name] — I’m a [year] at [school] studying [major]. I came across your work on [specific thing they did] and have been thinking about a similar problem in [domain].
Could I send you a 3-question email about how you broke into [company / industry]? I know your time is limited; I’ll be brief and won’t ask for a referral.
Either way, thanks for the work you’ve put out — it’s been useful. — [your name]
Why it works
It’s short. The most common reason cold outreach fails is length.
It names something specific they did. Generic praise reads as fake; pointing at a specific thing reads as real.
It explicitly disclaims asking for a referral. The biggest reason people don’t respond to student outreach is fear of being asked for a favor — preempt that.
It offers a clear, low-stakes ask: 3 questions over email. Not a coffee chat, not a call. People who would say no to a 30-minute call often say yes to 3 emailed questions.
Once they respond
Send the 3 questions. Make them specific to their experience, not generic ("How do I break into product management?" is generic; "When you moved from engineering to PM at Stripe, what convinced your manager you were ready?" is specific).
Reply with a brief thank-you and one substantive follow-up. People remember the people who actually engage with their answers.
Six months later, send an update on something you accomplished. This builds the relationship into something durable.