Making the Most of Office Hours
Preparation
Think about what questions you want to ask. Almost any topic is fair game! Some ideas include:
- Course content: review your notes for concepts you want to clarify
- Specific assignments: review graded exams, flesh out your idea for an upcoming project, or ask about course-specific test-prep strategies
- Current events: discuss recent events, especially those that relate to the class subject
- Mentorship: ask about the professor’s career path or research focus, and think about how these might relate to your own interests
Make a plan for when you want to attend:
- Don’t be afraid to email your professor about setting up a one-on-one appointment if their regular office hours conflict with your schedule.
- If the professor only offers group office hours and you feel intimidated by the group dynamic, aim to go either right at the beginning or toward the end of the session; these are usually the least busy times.
- Not sure about going alone? Coordinate with a classmate so you can attend office hours together.
Showing Up
If you feel yourself getting anxious and wanting to back out, remind yourself of a few things:
- The professor really is there for you. They’re likely required to hold office hours, so you’re not taking any time out of their day, and for them, talking to an eager student beats catching up on emails!
- If you’re going to a group session, remember that your questions are not any less important than anyone else’s. If you find something confusing, chances are excellent that others do, too.
- You’re doing this as a favor to your future self. Attending office hours is a bit like exercising: it’s hard to talk yourself into going, but once it’s over, you almost always feel better for it.
During the Meeting
- Take notes as you listen to help you remember the main takeaways after the meeting.
- Be honest with yourself and the professor. Pretending to understand things doesn’t do you any favors. If an answer confuses you, or the professor mentions something you’re not familiar with, do ask for clarification. These extra questions not only help you; the professor sees that you’re engaged and actively listening, and you get a better understanding of the topic at hand.
Afterwards
Reward yourself! When you do something out of your comfort zone, giving yourself a small treat is an important part of validating the accomplishment. For example, you might treat yourself to a snack from your favorite coffee shop, a TV episode, or maybe a peaceful walk outside. You’ve earned it!
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Making the Most of Office Hours
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