What You Need to Know About Professors

Professors can seem a little weird and intimidating at first. And some may be the last people on earth you’d want to party with. But most of them, one-on-one, are pretty down-to-earth and human. (Even if they don’t act like it in the classroom). No matter how you feel about them, it's important to get to know them once you're in school. They can help you land internships -- and even jobs. But more importantly, at this point in your academic career, they can help you get good grades.

The best way to strike up a relationship with a professor is by stopping by his or her office hours. Because professors are required to keep their office hours, even if no one shows up, they have to be there. If no one shows up, it can be irritating -- like sending out invites to a party but having no one show up -- so there’s a good chance they’ll welcome your company even if you stop by, no matter who you are. However, stopping by a professor’s office is an art. Here’s what you need to know:

Never stop by before one of their classes, because this is when professors do last-minute prep work for class. Check your professor’s schedule. (You can do this by looking at the course list for the department. online, and searching for their names after the course.) The best time to talk to a professor is late afternoon, when classes are over, and they’re (somewhat) relaxed with a cup of coffee in their hand.
Always stop by with a purpose. Don’t stop by just to gab, unless your professor is particularly social. By the same token, don’t just rush in with your question, get it answered, and go. Take time to chat and build a relationship; your professor doesn’t want to feel used, like a textbook. They want to feel human. Acknowledge this without delving into his or her personal life or asking any questions that touch on his or her credentials (dangerous territory in professorland). Here are great topics for discussion:
- Ask for career advice. Professors love to give advice. Most also love to make personal connections, and love to know you’re as passionate about their field as they are. They want to know what you’re planning on doing with what they’re teaching you; that’s why they’re there. This is a great time to ask about internships and co-ops as well.
- Ask to discuss in more detail something they were talking about in class that interested you. Professors love to know you’re as passionate about their field as they are, but they also have good BS detectors. So make sure it’s something you’re sincerely interested in, and not just something you’re doing to impress them or to ultimately get something from them. Professors know the difference.
- Ask them to explain something you genuinely didn’t understand during the lecture. Professors are usually happy to expand on the information they shared in class, but this strategy involves more work, often tedious work, on the professor’s part. So be sure to stay positive and interested.
- Bring in an article related to something you were discussing in class that you think they might find interesting. This kind of thing makes a professor’s heart go pitter-patter, and will possibly endear you to them forever. One possible introduction: “Professor ____, I found this article about ______, which we were discussing in class, and I thought it was pretty interesting. I thought you might want to check it out…”

Always Follow Through

If you’re going to ask your professor for advice, be sure you follow through with their recommendations and follow-up. For instance, if your professor tells you to go to x web site or call "Person Y" at Big Name Company to follow through with an internship lead, be sure to do it, and follow up a few days later -- either by e-mail or by dropping by quickly and giving your professor an update. This will keep the relationship strong, and help ensure a good recommendation later.

Don’t Stalk Your Professor

There is such a thing as too much contact, and professors are very sensitive to it, because they’re extremely busy. They may be communicating with up to 300 students a quarter. Keep this in mind, and try not to e-mail more than once a week. Stopping by your professor’s office every few weeks should suffice to maintain a relationship; just make sure you always have a purpose. A class project, questions about the material, or an ongoing search for a co-op or internship are excellent ones.

Be Aware That Rude Professors Are the Exception, Not the Rule

Some professors may not be friendly when you stop by their offices and you may get the feeling they’d rather be detailing their car than talking to you. If this is the case, move on to another professor in the department who’s more approachable. They’re out there. Also, don’t disregard professors outside your major; your “fun” elective professors may have contacts that will help you too.