How to Make Connections With College Professors

As a college student, building strong relationships with your professors can be a valuable asset throughout your academic career and beyond. From getting better grades to securing recommendation letters for internships and jobs, connecting with your professors can open doors to countless opportunities. In this blog post, we’ll explore practical tips and strategies for building strong connections with your college professors, so you can make the most out of your academic experience. Here are 5 solid ways to get close without stepping over any bounds.

1. Impress the Connections Out of Them

There are so many faces like yours coming and going, so many papers to grade, cups of coffee to drink, and meetings to attend. You’re going to have to stick out without being a jackass. If you’re trying to get either the professor or other students to laugh during class, you’re probably not impressing anyone. Here are a couple tips:

• Details: Pay attention to the little things because your professors will be. The quickest way to impress is to NOT do all the things they expect students to do. Be THAT person who takes the time to understand the protocol, be prompt, and pay attention to details! Now, don’t make light of this practice. Just realize that it IS noticed and appreciated.
• Study Up: Has the professor written a book? Many books? Do they have a blog? If you take the time to get to know them as a person, you can see what motivates them. This way, you can add nuances to everything you do that will catch their interest. Barely anyone does this, so it can work like a charm. Show interest in them.

2. Be Available & Willing to Serve

It’s not about what your professor can do for you but what you can do for your professor. Don’t sit in the back of the class, but don’t attempt to be a teacher’s pet either. Make it obvious what you’re doing, which is no different from what your professor did. Making connections in college is par for the course (forgive the pun).

• Consistent: Don’t pester, but be consistent. Let them know you’re standing at the ready to be of service in any way possible.
• The Word: Don’t treat only one of your professors this way, but all those whom you think could become a mutually beneficial connection.
• Options: If they’ve already got their assistants covered and don’t need your help in the office, is there something you could do for them in their private lives? Cut the lawn? Landscaping? Perhaps just a quality conversation on interesting class-related topics?

3. Set Up Communication Early On

Don’t wait. Quickly stop by their office to personally introduce yourself. Don’t be bubbly and overflowing with youthful angst. Just relax and act as professionally informal as possible. Now, try not to mention grades, period. Instead, focus on these three things.

• Your Goals: Your goals are what you intend to learn from the professor. Don’t dehumanize them by only referring to “class.”
• Their Goals: Let them know you appreciate their position and knowledge without kissing their backside. Make it clear that it is your intention because you would like to impress them and get to know them better. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, and they know it.
• Keep it Short: No long-winded conversations for your first couple of visits. Keep it short and stay well behind the informal boundary. A couple minutes is all it takes to make a great impression.

4. Don’t Ask to Be Called On

Your professors should know you’ve got your act together. You study, you take the course seriously, you intend to get to know them better and you’re a star player. But, never make this obvious in class, and NEVER try to upstage the professor in front of students.

• Wait: Don’t be a jabber jaw and or a Mr. Know it all. Why speak in class if you’re not called on? What’s the point? Are you really going to argue with someone and derail the professor’s plan for class?
• Defer: Instead of hogging the class conch, say what you need to say to make a good point and then pass it along. Do what you can to let other people keep the limelight.
• Listen: Keep your ears open and listen to the issues, concerns, and problems that other students are having. This information can come in handy. If the professor sees you making their job easier, they’ll notice you for it.

5. Be Human & Ask for Help

If you’re having a hard time or going through a crisis, don’t complain in class or complain to other students in the class. Instead, bring your very human issues to your equally human professor. Oftentimes they will bend over backward to help students that need and ask for it without being a pain.

Hope this helps. Remember, your professors are like windows into professional worlds. Don’t neglect them, and do what you can to form mutually beneficial connections.

So, what have you done to get closer to your professors? What’s working or not working for you?