<p>Does anyone have any advice on developing a good relationship with your professor freshman year, enough so that they can write a decent recommendation letter for you?</p>
<p>How about advice on developing this relationship through the 4 years?</p>
<p>Two words: Office hours.</p>
<p>You can ask for a reccomendation right after you have them, you know. A lot of career services offices will have credentials files where they'll keep your recs.</p>
<p>Here's some tips, some I've never actually done, but I plan to do on my professors (I'm an IR major so this might reflect that). I would love to hear people's other suggestions:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Take them in another class. Two semesters really builds a relationship.</p></li>
<li><p>Always try to build a good relationship when you're in a seminar.</p></li>
<li><p>Go to their office hours. Ask them about their research, how they got into their field, etc. I've spent only 10 minutes talking about the material in the course, and 50 minutes talking about everything else.</p></li>
<li><p>This is the brownie points one. Read the NYTimes everyday (as an IR major it's so useful for me) and give them an article relevant to the class. Or here's the big one: read one of your professors research articles, if she has any, and come in to discuss it.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>talk to them...or if you are desperate you can try seduction</p>
<p>Sit in the front, or near the front, and ask questions after class when possible. Even if it's something you could probably figure out, just saying, "Just so I'm clear...", is effective in that the professor realizes you are making an effort to learn the material and are paying attention in class. </p>
<p>Other than that, going to office hours for help, or simply inquiring about their professional life (I had an teacher who worked as an Ibanker, so I met with him a couple times and discussed things about his job) can help.</p>
<p>In my freshman year I developed good relationships with two of my professors. The first was the result of a general e-mail about course material, which turned into an extended back-and-forth "chat," which then became dinner at a restaurant on campus -- and the rest is history. The second was largely due to common religion; my prof attends Mass on campus the same times that I do, and also leads a religious club that I am a part of. We became friends, and we often go to lunch at a local eatery after Mass on weekdays.</p>
<p>Don't try seduction... unless you're SURE they'll go for it ;)</p>
<p>These are all good suggestions, just bear in mind:</p>
<p>You may not warm up to all of your professors. Just like the rest of the people you meet, some will be friendlier and more prone to a casual chat than others. The relationships you develop with each will reflect that - some professors will really enjoy conversing with you about non-course related matters during office hours, others may be busy and not really have the time. Don't worry if you don't become chummy with everyone.</p>
<p>Also bear in mind:</p>
<p>Professors <strong>WILL</strong> know the difference between you being genuinely interested in their work and sucking up in order to get a good recommendation letter.</p>
<p>If you have good and honest intentions, you won't have to worry about how to get to know your professors. A professor isn't a God, he/she is a normal human being..just with a higher level of education. So just be normal around him/her, but don't treat him/her like you would with your friends at a bar.</p>
<p>And <strong>DO NOT</strong> try to seduce your professors. They are not willing to lose their tenure, grants, job etc. just so you can pass their class. Also, if you get into a relationship with a professor, providing you with a letter of recommendation presents a conflict of interest.</p>