Getting to Know Professors

Getting to know a professor can be intimidating, especially if you are a student at a large university.  During my first semester, I was terrified to approach an professor with questions or concerns.  I worried that I would embarrass myself by asking dumb questions, and I have a feeling I’m not the only one that falls into this category.

Professors are very intelligent individuals.  It takes smarts to teach at a college or university.  Many professors, especially those with tenure, have a myriad of experience to compliment their extensive knowledge base.  When experience is coupled with intelligence, it creates a bountiful resource for students.

Although it might not seem practical at the time, getting to know a professor can provide you with long-term benefits.  Chances are that your professors are highly regarded within their field of study both regionally and nationally, and possibly internationally.  Forming a friendship with a prof could end up getting you into the grad school of your choice or land you a job offer you would not have received otherwise.  

What I have described so far might sound manipulative, and that’s what I thought when I heard this advice for the first time.  I objected, “Well, if my sole motivation for getting to know a professor is to benefit myself, is that really the right thing to do?”  This is a reasonable ethical concern, but the reality is that most professors strongly desire to help students.  For some instructors, giving advice and imparting knowledge to eager students is their favorite part of teaching.    

Once you figure out why it is important to form relationships with your college instructors, you need to be equipped with right tools.  Here are a few tips.

1. Shoot for only professional Interactions at first, then branch out into personal matters IF YOU THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE.
2. Go to office hours with questions in mind about the course material.
3. Treat the administrative staff in the department with respect.
4. Distinguish between intellectual sincerity and brown-nosing.