Connecting With Professors

The beginning of the semester is a great time to be intentional about fostering connections with the people around you – especially your professors!

Why is it important to connect with your professors?

• A basis of connection and mutual understanding will make it easier for you to ask for help when you need it throughout the semester
• Letters of recommendation (for grad school or a job) are always a bonus – professors who have worked closely with you in class will be a great resource for this, so if there’s a professor that you admire, you might as well build the connection!
• Getting to know your professor will make your time in their class more enjoyable (and chances are, they’re pretty cool as well)

How do you go about making those connections?

• Go to office hours!
  • Not sure what to talk to them about? That’s okay!
    • Go in and just introduce yourself. Tell them why you’re excited about their class
    • Talk with them about their area of research if applicable – research faculty are usually pretty psyched about what they do outside of teaching
    • Ask questions about their career path (especially if it’s similar to a path that you want to pursue)
• Ask questions in class (or before class, or after class)
  • Not only will this keep you engaged with the material, but it’ll also help your professor get to know you, as well as your abilities as a student

Now go ahead and make those connections – future you will be thankful that you made the effort! Make it a goal to pop into office hours this week or stay after class to chat with your professor. For more personalized help on this, as well as other academic-related concerns, feel free to visit the Dennis Learning Center website for free resources, or schedule an appointment with an Dennis Learning Center academic coach.