Think of your professors in college as your coaches, as well as your teachers. Most professors want you to succeed and will give you a reasonable amount of help if you ask. College professors, however, will probably have higher expectations for you than your high school teachers. They expect you to work more independently, to think critically, and to direct much of your own learning.
Professors also want you to know the following about them:
____1. Unless you are in a very large class, they really do notice if you attend regularly, even if they don't take attendance.
Professors will be much more willing to give you assistance, and make allowances for special circumstances, if they know you are trying to do your best. If you don't come to class for almost every lecture, however, they won't think very highly of your effort.
____2. Professors want you to ask questions during lectures, as long as you do so courteously and don't get long winded.
Professors generally enjoy interacting with students and appreciate thoughtful questions. They don't appreciate it if you ask so many questions, though, that they can't get through their lecture. They also appreciate specific questions about a topic, rather than a general, "I just don't get it. Will you explain it again?"
____3. Professors expect you to come to class prepared.
That means that you've completed any assigned reading before the lecture, and you turn assignments in before the lecture starts, instead of completing them during the lecture.
____4. Professors don't mind you pointing out a mistake (on a test, for example), but they expect you to do so in a courteous manner.
If you find an error on a test, point it out courteously instead of demanding that your grade be changed. Sometimes a professor will make a mistake coding an answer on a scan tron and it just needs to brought to her attention. I tell my students that the first time I give a test, I expect one or two errors. If they find one, all they have to do is tell me, and I'll fix it.
____5. Professors usually enjoy mentoring students who have an interest in their field.
If you have a professor who is teaching something that you want to study more deeply, look for ways to have more interaction with that professor. Perhaps you could work for him as a research assistant or teaching assistant during a subsequent semester.
____6. If you have a problem with a professor, she expects you to first discuss it with her privately instead of going to another professor, department chair, or dean.
It's only fair to give your professor a chance to clear up a misunderstanding or discuss an issue before involving someone else.
____7. Professors are usually happy to write letters of recommendations for deserving students.
Don't ask for one, though, unless you truly gave the class your best effort and have developed a positive relationship with the professor.
____8. Professors have been in your shoes.
Almost all of your professors will have advanced degrees. They've had to work hard to succeed in college, and they expect that of you, too.
____9. Professors want you to take them at their word.
Some professors will tell you they'll drop you if you miss more than three classes, while others will tell you they won't and you'll earn an F if you stop coming to class. Most will tell you they don't give any extra credit except what is available to all the students. Some professors will tell you that they don't allow anyone to take an exam who comes late to class that day. Whatever it is, when professors make statements like these, believe them and act accordingly.
____10. Professors know what it takes to succeed in their class, so take their suggestions seriously.
If they say you really need to study ten to fifteen hours a week for their course, believe them. If they recommend you use certain study aides, use them. If they give you hints on ways to prepare for exams, follow those suggestions. After all, they wrote the tests.
