The transition to college can be tough, especially for students who have never attended college before. Many first-time college students are used to a typical high school classroom setting, where the teachers know all of their students by name. High school teachers often form great relationships with their students, and they typically have a knack for knowing when their students are having a difficult time in class or slacking off. College is a completely different story. It's hard for professors to remember every name in a lecture hall with 50 students, and this anonymity can cause some students to feel awkward or embarrassed when doing tasks such as asking questions. Here are some tips on how to present yourself in a way that will make your professors want to remember you.
- Sit up front, and don’t doze off during lecture. Show your professors that you are in class, and that you’re attentive and ready to learn. Your professors will appreciate this and seeing students engaged in learning is something they love.
- Introduce yourself after class. Take a deep breath and get talking! Tell them your name, your major, your interests, why you're taking their class, and so on. You might even find something in common with your instructors. If you show initiative and interest, your professors will be more likely to remember you.
- Ask questions! Ask questions in class, ask them after class, post questions on their online discussion boards and send them inquiries via email. There is no such thing as a stupid question, and most of the time professors are more than happy to help you out. Don't wait until the day of the test! Asking questions shows that you are curious and interested in their subject and you're willing to seek help when you need it.
- Give the faculty positive feedback about their classes. Professors are always looking for ways to improve their lectures, and suggestions that may help to improve learning in the classroom. A little kindness goes a long way, and professors love hearing sincere expressions of appreciation toward their discipline.
- Discuss current events with your professors. If you see something that's relevant to their class on the the internet, in a magazine, or on the news, tell them about it! This will spark discussion, and it may even have applications to what you're learning about in lecture. Doing this will show them that you can connect outside information to classroom material, and this is a sure fire way to win approval.
- Lastly, go to scheduled office hours. This is perhaps the most important thing a student can do, and office hours exist for a reason! Some professors don’t get a lot of visitation during office hours, but when they do they are more than happy to chat and answer questions. Going to faculty office hours is the best way to get to know them. You have the freedom to ask them anything, whether it be about the class, or about themselves. There is so much to learn from college faculty!
If you follow these tips you will have no problem forming great relationships with your professors! College instructors are experienced in their fields, and often can help students with internships, jobs, and so on. Some of the relationships you form with your professors can last throughout your entire college career, and if you're lucky, beyond graduation.
