Office Hours–That Thing You NEED to Do to Succeed
Office hours are a critical part of college that WAY too many people ignore. While it might seem intimidating to show up and talk to your professor one-on-one (especially during your first semester!), it will help you so much in the long run. This help goes beyond simple assistance in a class or preparation for a test, too!
Here are just a few reasons why office hours could be a great thing for you:
- Building relationships with your professor
- Getting TA/GA positions
- Being picked up for research
- Learning more about various internship opportunities
- Being the first to hear about job options
- Getting better grades
- Laying the groundwork for great letters of rec
Obviously all of these are fantastic outcomes–but how do you start get there? Not to fear. We have five easy steps to make the most of office hours and build that relationship.
#1: Figure Out WHEN Office Hours Are
The first step is to organize the various office hours for your professors. I do this at the beginning of each semester, and it has been incredibly helpful to have them all in one place. I’ve included a sample chart below to help you organize everything. Most often, professors put their office hours dates, times, and locations in an announcement at the beginning of the semester or on the first few pages of the syllabus. It’s easiest to note all of these things during syllabus week so that they’re fresh in your mind!
How to Organize
I like to go through my classes in the order that I have them. For example, if I had RELS101 on MWF, I would put that first. I would then put the professor’s name, the room of their office hours (not the classroom!), and what the dates and times are. Be warned here–some professors have very random times on random days. This is due to the classes they teach, meetings they have, and research they’re a part of. Professors tend to stick to these schedules pretty strictly too, so make sure that you plan to arrive early. I’ve had professors who even arranged their office hours down to the minutes (i.e., 3:14-6:51) because they factored in how long it would take them to get to the next place. Respecting their schedule and not pressing them will definitely help you in the long run.
Once you have these times written down, it helps to compare it to your schedule and see when would line up. For example, if my RELS101 class had office hours from 4-5 on Tuesday and 3-4:30 on Thursday, I would look at my classes. If I had class in a similar area from 4-6:40 on both of those days, I would make a note or highlight Thursday from 3-3:50, and I would plan to get there early. You’d be surprised at how many students actually show up to office hours, especially around test time! If there are any classes where you absolutely will need to arrange an appointment outside of regular hours, make a star. Put this organizer in your planner or in an easily accessible spot.
#2: Go in Prepared
Now that you know when office hours are, it’s time to prepare. There’s no point in going to office hours if you don’t know what you’re going to talk to the professor about. Just like you, they don’t want their time to be wasted.
So how do we fix this?
It’s easy. What I like to do is write at least three questions that have to do with the course’s material or the professor’s background. For example, if I’m studying International Relations, I might go in asking the professor’s opinion on something happening in the news in the lens of a certain theory. If I’m writing an essay for a class, I might go in with specific questions about content and what the professor is looking for. If I’m considering a career in a particular field, I might ask the professor what previous students have done in that field. The point is pretty simple: you don’t know what’s out there if you don’t ask, and you need to be prepared before you do so.
#3: Refer to Something Specific in the Professor’s Class
You probably wouldn’t be shocked to learn how many students don’t listen in lectures. So many people don’t even show up to them in the first place, and many of the ones who do show up don’t pay attention. Professors aren’t clueless. When you show effort, care, and respect, that speaks volumes to them.
This can be a question in reference to a text reviewed in the class, a research trip they mentioned, a study abroad they brought up, or a discussion point you wanted to explore more. All of these a great ideas. They show that you were actively listening and that you’re genuinely invested. Pretty much everyone in the field of education appreciates genuine curiosity, passion, and the desire to be a lifelong learner. If a professor is considering recommending someone for a position or selecting a TA, this attention to detail and curiosity is going to stand out to them.
#4: Return Often and Expand the Conversation
This is the most crucial step. You can’t just show up once and expect the relationship to be established. Like with any other relationship, you need to put time and effort into it. By showing up to office hours often and showing them that you have a genuine interest in their subject, you will send a clear message to them. They will start anticipating you coming, start new conversations with you, and become more familiar with what you bring to the table. Of course, you need to have a reason to go. Classes are a great jumping off point, as is expanding the subject as a whole. However, there’s a key to extending the conversation.
Here’s the best possible way to expand the conversation: ask about them. Everyone loves talking about themselves. Professors are no exception; they’ll likely jump at the chance to talk about their research and share it with you. If they’ve mentioned an area of research before, probe into that further. If they haven’t, you can do a little bit of light stalking. Usually, your school will have a short bio on all of their professors under their department homepages. Skim through that and make note of a research area that you’re interested in. If you play your cards right, you could show interest and potentially set yourself up for a future research opportunity with them!
#5: Be Polite–Treat Them with Respect
This should be obvious, but it really isn’t for a lot of people.
If you email a professor and set up an appointment outside of regular office hours or mention that you will be in during office hours, go. Don’t flake. If you see that they are with another student, just sit patiently and don’t hover. When they’re in a hurry, accept it. Disagree with them politely. Use whatever titles they prefer (Doctor or Professor, etc.). Thank them for their time. Make sure to use manners and to act professional. Put time and thought into your emails to them. All of these small things are acts that other college students overlook, and these will help your professor to remember you above the others. After all, we all want to be around people who treat us well.
And think about if you were in their shoes. Who would you offer a research opportunity to? Someone who couldn’t take the time to address them properly in an email or someone who always greets them with a smile and thanks them for their time? Small actions will get you a long way, and you’ll be able to develop that strong relationship with that professor.
Conclusion
Office hours are the key to networking with professors, succeeding in classes, and getting a better idea of your future. They are, undoubtedly, one of the factors that make the difference between a good student and an excellent student. Start new in the upcoming semester and go to at least one professor’s office hours consistently to develop that relationship!
