Get to Know Your College Professors
Cultivating Relationships With Faculty
After listening to your biology professor lecture for an hour and a half on the Krebs cycle, you may be less than inspired to linger after class for further discussion on cellular respiration.
Don't hesitate, though, to approach your professors outside of the classroom. Professors genuinely want to get to know you—that's a good part of why they became teachers. Getting to know them will enrich many parts of your college experience, such as:
Your Understanding of Coursework
If you have a question after a lecture or doing some reading, take the time to ask your professor about it after class or during office hours. You'll get the information you need to better grasp the material and give your professor the opportunity to see your interest and enthusiasm.
Your Motivation
Even if you have a perfect understanding of the class material, your professors can still help you push yourself to do your best. For example, they can give you suggestions for related reading or help you explore and choose topics for an assignment.
Your Grades
A huge advantage of seeing your professor before turning in a paper or taking a test is that the professor gains insight into how hard you prepared. This will be an important factor when it comes to grading your work, since it makes your professor more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt and to give you credit for your effort. If you don't get to know your professors, by contrast, they have no way of knowing whether your work has flaws because you didn't take enough time on it, or, as you may have explained in office hours, because it is the first lengthy research paper you've ever written.
Your Letters of Recommendation
When it comes time to apply for internships, jobs, or graduate school, you'll probably need professors to write letters of recommendation for you. They can write much better letters, of course, if they know you as more than a face in a crowd.
Your Networking Opportunities
Your professors may be able to help you plug into a professional community or even find an internship or job. For example, let's say you can't get enough of contemporary fiction, and you're considering becoming a book editor. Your creative writing teacher may be able to tell you about local author readings, invite you to book parties, or put you in touch with a publishing house.
Granted, some professors may be more approachable than others. You may get someone to answer a question after class, or someone who ends up being a mentor. But whatever role they play, they're there to help you learn. They're a resource that you shouldn't pass on.
