With the Fall 2018 semester coming to a close, students are wondering how they can pull out all the stops to impress their professors at the end of the year.
Whether they’ll admit it or not, asking your professor to meet with you during office hours goes a long way with your end of the semester grade. Professors want to see their students committed to the workload, subject, and taking time out of their day to make an arrangement. Bring questions to ask, review and clarify material, and ask what exactly you can do to better prepare for the next test. They’ll see you as more than just a student who occupies a desk.
Extra credit. Is it a myth in college? To some professors, extra credit is nothing but a second chance their students don’t deserve. If you couldn’t perform to the standard the professor was asking for during the semester, why would you get another shot? However, not all professors are this way at Fordham. I encourage you to inquire about doing extra work. Most professors will have something in the back of their mind for their students to explore, whether it be diving deeper into a topic already reviewed in class, or performing research on something new that is relevant to the class subject. Regardless, students would be going to the extra mile to strengthen their academic understanding of the subject – an aspect enjoyed by professors who know their students are not necessarily majoring in the subject they teach. It shows commitment to take a stronger interest in something relevant to the student, allowing them to find a personal avenue to be passionate about content associated with the course. Personal development and growth will only mentally assist a student, and it will potentially provoke the professor to look deeper in the extra credit content students are studying. Perhaps a future lesson plan?
Fordham is striving to make its students well-rounded and communicative members of society. Students are encouraged to talk to their professors about end-of-the-semester exams, confusing course content, and extra credit options.
It doesn’t hurt to ask for assistance – that’s why your professors show up to work each day!