It’s hard to stand out at a big school like Maryland, especially in those large lecture halls. And believe me, you want to stand out. A positive relationship with a professor can mean extra editorial help on papers. It can mean the difference between an A and a B. It can mean stellar recommendation letters. It can mean landing that interview. It can mean getting that job. It can mean a brighter future.
However, just like with every relationship, creating a bond with a professor takes effort, time, and devotion. And with just like every relationship, it requires initiative and a good first impression.
I always send an email to each of my professors a week or so before the semester begins to introduce myself. I tell them how excited I am to begin class, and make sure to include a question about something such as office hours or an unclear point in the syllabus, in order to set up a line of communication.
On the first day of class, I make sure to approach my teacher after lecture to put a face to the email. No shiny apple necessary; just a nice smile and a friendly handshake can do the trick.
The point when students who had taken the time to introduce themselves and had flashed their pearly whites and had made a good impression on a professor often fail to form relationships when they stop there. Imagine a new friend that puts no effort into the relationship after your first meeting? That is not a good friend or a relationship you will want to continue.
A relationship with a professor takes consistency. Once the good impression is set, it takes continuing those emails, continuing to ask questions, and even attending those office hours. I attended my professor’s office hours this past semester when I was struggling with a topic we covered in class, and not only did I receive some free personal tutoring, but I also established a great relationship with my professor. He constantly emailed me to see if I needed anymore help, and I knew I was welcome in his office.
If you do attend the office hours don’t forget to send a follow up thank you email! This small act goes a long way and is greatly appreciated.
As human beings, we are born with pretty decent “sincerity detectors.” We can usually tell when someone is being sincere and when they simply want something we have. Professors are humans too. It is completely fine to initiate a connection with a teacher with the hope of it benefitting your grade in the future, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be sincere and care about the relationship. Be mindful of coming off fake.
Things that are important take effort. It is a fact of life and it is not changing anytime soon. Establishing relationships with teachers takes work, but nothing has ever been more worth it! And who knows- one day you may find that teacher that will stay in your life forever. And bumps up your grade.