Professors & Office Hours Hat
Mostly, American professors are nice, yet they expect students to be fully committed. Within the allocated time, students are free to ask any question and even form a relationship over mentoring.
Contacting Professors
Be professional yet keep it casual: Most professors in the US prefer to be called Professor [Last Name] unless they tell you otherwise to use their first name.
Make good use of the email feature:
Appropriately Phrase the Subject i.e. "Question regarding Assignment 2 in ECON 101.”
Professors are short on time, so you should be too.
Always start by introducing yourself, “Hello, I'm Shruti from your ECON 101 class.”
For example, pretend "I'm having trouble with Part B of Assignment 2" instead of "I don’t understand this assignment.” Try to provide an answer to the question: “What should the answer of the data analysis portion of the assignment be?”
Making the Most of Office Hours
When do you work? There are set times outside of class when teachers can be reached for questions, talks, or help.
How do I get ready?
To make sure your questions are clear, read the information first.
Write down any questions you have ahead of time.
What to ask: clarifications about readings or lectures, feedback on assignments or projects, help with graduate school, research chances, and career paths.
As an example, one student I know who used to attend all the office hours for the course was able to get a strong letter of recommendation for an internship, and also, got better grades.
What I really want to emphasize are
Students who I know to be engaged will always get positive feedback from their professors.
Instead of coming to class when you have issues, come once in a while to discuss ideas that are exciting to you.
This active engagement helps one to establish a rapport for the sake of references, mentorship, and even research.
What I recommend is
In the semester, go to the office hours. Do not wait until the day of the exam.
If it is your first time, feel free to go with a friend or classmate.
If other students are in the middle of a discussion, be mindful.
In situations of this nature it is you, who is in the conversation, who ought to be on the clock.
As a final point, professors do make time to discuss ideas with students, and are not there to punish students for not attending or for attending. They are not easy to reach, and the fact that you can reach them will make you a student who is active and. willing to assist you in your journey.
