Making Friends In College… With Professors?

You might picture your average college classroom filled with hundreds of other students all staring up at one big projector and doing their best to soak in some education. Whether it’s a big class like that or a smaller class, you’ll be spending plenty of time listening to your professor talk. So pay attention! But more than that, you’ll be doing yourself a favor if that teacher knows who you are! Whether it’s a big class or a small class, that teacher is worth getting to know, or at least making it so he or she knows your name.

College professors meet hundreds of students each year. No, even if your professor won’t remember you very well five or ten years later, it can’t hurt for her to at least learn your name. If you’re in a big class, take a minute after class to introduce yourself to the teacher, and stop by during office hours to brush up on material. Although teachers should and will, for the most part, grade you based on tests and other material, one who knows your name and remembers you as a student who cared about her work can look only more highly upon you—yes, even when it comes time to grading.

If you’re in a small class, you can be sure your professor will learn your name, so take things another step. Actually participating in class will always score a few points with professors, but as with the big classes, take time to visit this professor during his office hours. Any professor who recognizes that you’re putting effort into your classes is bound to like you better, and while you shouldn’t do this only to help bolster your grade, effort and attitude do have influence when it comes to grading. Sure, college classes are largely about tests and papers, but any teacher who recognizes a student has put effort into his work is bound to give more credit where credit is due. Aside from helping out your grade, actually visiting with professors lets you learn more and see a different side of the material and that particular teacher. In front of a class, any teacher has to teach to inform a wide range of students. But on your own, your professor can tailor any questions and explanations to your needs.

Even if you’re not looking to become best friends with your professor, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll have a better overall college experience if you take the time to get to know a couple professors. As for the academic side of college, teachers play the main role. If you can look back on a couple teachers who really influenced and inspired you, you’ll be glad you took the time to get to know them.

Professors are people too. When you talk them with them in instances other than raising your hand in class to answer a question, who knows what you might hear. Perhaps they’ll share a cool story or snippet from when they were young. Whatever it is, they’ll share something that will make them be more personable, and maybe you guys will end up becoming friends.