With finals approaching in a meer three weeks, it’s the perfect time to get a little extra help with your coursework. How, you ask? Why, office hours of course! Your professor’s office hours are a great and under-utilized resource for you as a student. Here are the top reasons you should be attending:
1. To introduce yourself. Get to know your professor. So many of our classes have hundreds of other students in them, and this is a great way to stand out from the crowd. This is especially useful at the beginning of the semester, but it’s never too late!
2. To clear up confusion. Your professors can help clarify lecture notes, readings, assignments, or any other course materials. Try to target specific concepts or topics you are having difficulty with, and write down questions or bullet points you would like to discuss. Additionally, if you want to hear more about a certain topic, this is an opportunity to use your professor’s knowledge and learn more. They are the experts in their field, who better to ask?
3. To avoid repeating the same mistakes. If you made several errors on a previous exam, office hours are a great chance to review where you went wrong. It is especially useful to go over old exams with your professor if you have a cumulative final exam. You don’t want to make the same mistakes twice!
3. To discuss special requests. Office hours are a great chance to talk to your professor about letters of recommendation for professional schools or scholarships. Getting to know your professor will allow them to put more in a letter of rec than “He got a 4.0 in my class”. This is your way to show your professor more about you. Attending office hours helps a professor know what kind of person you are, what your goals are, and where you want to go in life!
4. You’re already paying for it. You’ve paid tuition for the class– why not make the most of it? A professor’s office hours are at your disposal, and taking advantage of them is a great opportunity to make connections with faculty members and enhance your learning experience.
Good luck!
-K