Professors are honestly the most underrated resource in college. They write recommendations, take pity on you when you hit the mid-semester slump, and support you as you enter the adult world. Office hours are blocks of time devoted to YOU. Check out all the great things that happen when you visit them:
1. To Introduce yourself
In a class anywhere from 30 to 150 students, always make sure your professor knows your name. When final grades are being entered and a professor knows who you are or that you were always participating, they’re likely to round up to that perfect “A” if you’re on the bubble.
2. To fix or boost your grade
Everyone has a rough semester or a class they just really struggle with. If you take the initiative to attend office hours, it not only shows you care, but that you’re determined to improve as a student. Professors can clarify material and provide extra resources. This is especially useful for students who absorb information a little bit slower or don’t match the overall pace of the course.
3. To get a chance to explore their field
Most people assume that with a degree in education, you can only teach- not true. Most people also assume you can only be a psychologist or psychiatrist with a psychology degree. Also not true. There are endless career paths in every field that you probably don’t know about yet. Your professor is an expert in their field for a reason and will definitely be more than willing to talk about opportunities or potential career paths!
4. To prepare for life post-grad and get recommendations
Although it may sound scary, it is never too early to start thinking about life after graduation. Whether you’re looking for a job recommendation or a letter for your graduate school applications, be sure to build up relationships with professors. Personalized letters detailing your accomplishments while working with the professor and ensuring your long-term work ethic can help set you apart from hundreds of other applicants.
Your professors are humans too. Take time to get to know them, they’ll probably pretty cool people.
Good luck this semester, Collegiettes!