After being in classes of 25 people in high school, you find yourself in a college lecture of 200 people. It can be an intimidating shift: going from a teacher who knows you personally to a professor who doesn’t even know your name. How can you possibly get to know them? And why bother? In this article we discuss how to get to know your professors, and why they’re a great resource once you do.
Why Get to Know Your Professors?
What could they possibly do for you apart from teach class? Let’s start with one of the obvious perks: grades. Professors are human, and they’re more likely to give good grades to students they know well. This isn’t just the case for classes with participation points, or where grading is more subjective. If a professor knows and likes you, they’re much more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt if your test answers are a little unclear.
Another clear benefit is the networking! Your professor can provide all kinds of job and research opportunities. Professors have worked in their field for a long time and are usually well-acquainted with other academics in their field or people in related industries. They’re more likely to think of you for different opportunities that may arise for undergraduates. All the more reason to get to know your professor and cultivate a positive relationship!
Even if career connections don’t pan out, you will have a go-to person for letters of recommendation. Professors will be much more willing to help you out if they already know you. What’s more, the better a professor knows you, the more detailed and persuasive a letter they can write. If all they know is your grade and class attendance, their letter will be vague and superficial.
Having a good relationship with your professor can also greatly impact your understanding and enjoyment of the class. If you converse with them after class, they will help you out with material you don’t understand. Often their passion for the subject can be contagious! Getting to be in their class is already a great learning opportunity, and talking to them one-on-one is an even better one. Who knows, you might even become lifelong friends!
How to Approach Your Professors
Start early! Don’t wait until you have a problem or need something from them. Introduce yourself after your first class, or go to their office hours early in the year to let them know who you are. Professors always appreciate their students introducing themselves, and you’ll be more comfortable coming to them for help if you already know them.
Speaking of office hours… these are the best times to get to know your professor! It’s an opportunity to talk one-on-one with someone who has dedicated years to teaching and researching in their field. Not nearly enough students take advantage of this! Office hours are meant for you; this is time dedicated to being available for their students. Often times, students won’t attend, so you will set yourself apart from your peers by showing up. They will be delighted to see your face and have someone to talk to! Professors will usually post their office hours either online or on the syllabus. If there’s a scheduling conflict, most professors will arrange a meeting at a different time if you email them about it.
Outside of office hours, the best way to get to know a professor is during or after class. Be engaged and responsive in class – they’ll appreciate it! If you have feedback or want to ask questions, feel free to approach your professor after class (as long as they’re not in a rush). Professors want to know what you think of their lectures, and approaching them after class gives you something to talk about!
If you’re still at a loss for words, ask your professor about their research. Most professors dedicate a lot of time and effort to their area of expertise and will gladly share what they’re working on.
Remember…
Professors are people, too!
Approach them, be friendly, and don’t get caught up in any imaginary teacher/student boundary. Be polite, and talk to them like you would any other adult. We guarantee your professor enjoys getting to know their students and hearing their opinions.
Don’t be a suck-up.
Professors can tell when your interest isn’t genuine and they’ll get annoyed if you try and monopolize the class to get their attention. Be sincere, and don’t try so hard to flatter them.
Professors want to see you succeed!
Teaching is a large part of their job, and your enjoyment and success in the class is evidence of a job well done. Most professors are delighted to assist students on their academic or professional journeys. After all, they were once in your shoes!
Most importantly – be grateful.
Your professor already commits a lot of time and effort to your education. If they give you extra help, point you towards research opportunities, or write you a letter of recommendation, they’re going out of their way to support you. Let them know you appreciate their assistance both inside and outside of class. If they’ve helped you in a significant way by helping you find a job, for example, a thank you letter is a brilliant idea!
We hope you find these tips useful so that you can get to know your professors, and get the most out of your education!