There are so many great things about college, and so many opportunities to get involved, meet people and forge connections that you will continue to value in the future.
One of the most underrated but important resources are professors. You interact with professors several times a week in so many ways, including class lectures, group presentations and class discussions. Considering how much time you spend in their presence, it makes sense that professors are valuable resources beyond the grades you earn in their classes.
So, how do you approach getting to know your professors? Here are five easy steps.
1. Actually Go to Office Hours
The most obvious, but often underutilized strategy, is to go to office hours. Every professor holds office hours at least once a week, giving students a chance to drop in for help or to discuss something from class.
Even if you aren’t struggling in the class, it is a good idea to stop by office hours a few times to discuss the material with your professor. Show that you are interested and that you want to have a deeper understanding of what you are discussing in class, and allow your professor to get to know who you are. This is especially important if you have a lot of big lecture classes! Starting a conversation with a professor is as simple as asking a question about a concept from the previous class or asking for study or essay writing tips before your first test or assignment.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Email
If you’re too nervous to go to office hours, or if you can’t make them, try sending an email to your professor with your questions. I had a professor whom I occasionally emailed to ask questions about what we were talking about in class.
This showed my professor that I was really interested in what we were talking about in class, and now my professor will actually email me extra pieces of information outside of class to push my understanding of what we’re discussing in class.
3. Make an Effort in Class
Participate in class. Ask questions. Answer questions. Make observations. Be an active and engaging student. This becomes more intimidating if your class is huge and mainly lecture-based because there may be less opportunities to participate.
Nevertheless, doing what you can to stand out in a sea of students is vital, even if this is as simple as keeping your eyes open and engaging in class. Once, a professor told my class that one of the most gratifying things to see when teaching is a student nodding along to what the professor is saying. So, if you think your professors don’t notice when you’re paying attention or dozing off, think again.
4. Talk to Your Professors After Class
If your class is a large lecture with little opportunity for participation, why not spend a few minutes after class talking to your professor about what was discussed? Save your questions for afterwards. Don’t immediately bolt when class is over; instead dedicate five or 10 extra minutes to have a short conversation. Professors appreciate this more than students realize.
5. Take on Opportunities to Work With Professors Outside of Class
Participate in any outside activities. This one may not be applicable to every class, but this could include extra credit assignments, department activities that your professor advertises in class, a guest lecture and more. Once again, if you take time out of your schedule to show your interest, it can only benefit you in the long term.
Professors can be intimidating, but they are incredible resources. They can help you find jobs or internships, introduce you to people in the field you’re interested in, help you find undergraduate research positions as well as give you useful advice. And, if you follow these steps, I can guarantee that by the end of the semester, you’ll be able to ask for a letter of recommendation.
