College students have so much going on with their studies, work schedules and relationships they often neglect an important aspect of their academic lives: how they get along with their professors. Nurturing good relationships with professors can play a key role in your academic success. By discussing your studies you can deepen your knowledge and be more confident and better prepared for exams. And when your professors get to know you, they may guide you to career opportunities or even act as a reference one day.
Read on to learn how you can build better relationships with your professors. Remember: Professors Are Busy Like you, your professors have a lot going on! In addition to hours of prep, marking papers, grading exams, and teaching, they may also do research, write for journals — and have families and other obligations. Professors may teach hundreds of students each semester. Keep this in mind if your professors don’t immediately remember your name or what you may have discussed in or outside of class.
By showing up on time, asking questions, and engaging with the material, you’ll create a positive and memorable impression on your professors in the classroom.
Communication Is Key Good communication with your professors is always important but especially with email and online communications. It can be easy to slip into habits that may be appropriate for friends but may make a poor impression with a professor. Follow these tips to creating the right impression in all your interactions.
- Be brief and a bit more formal than you would with your family or friends over email or online. Avoid the temptation to use emoticons.
- Never ask if you missed anything important if you can’t make a class. To a professor, anything worth assigning as a reading or covering in class is important — they may find the question insulting.
- When you drop in during office hours, get to the point quickly. Be prepared with specific questions.
- If you need to speak to your professor about a disappointing test result or low grade, don’t react emotionally. Ask for feedback on how you could have improved or if you can make up for a low test score with an additional assignment. Be polite and respectful of your professor’s input.
Get Set For Success
Now that you know the secrets to great student-professor relationships, it’s time to take action. Take note of your professors’ office hours and plan a date to drop by for help with difficult material. As you prepare to graduate, you may want to ask for advice on next steps in your career. Professors can be a great resource and support to their students.
FVI School of Nursing and Technology wants to help you succeed. Our professors understand how a positive student/professor relationship can help foster a love of learning and instill confidence in students as they work toward their career goals. Contact us today to learn more about our academic and professional programs.
