Guide to Developing Good Relationships with Professors for Recomendation Letters

Transfer Students
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<p>I want to write this "guide" or whatever you want to call it, to contribute a little to the community because I feel I have been helped a great deal in this forum and I have seen that many people are asking the same question frequently. This is one of my strong points as a student (develop good relationships with professors). This past semester I had 5 professors and I developed a really good relationship with 4 so I just want to share how I did it. I'm sure it can help others. If anyone has any comments and suggestions, feel free to add them.</p>

<p>It would be nice if it could be "stickied" if the consensus is that it is helpful.</p>

<p>Well first off many might think that having a good relationship with a professor is everything to getting a good recommendation letter, it's a step but it's not all there is to it, you have to be a good student, not a goof off. I think it's very important to have a good relationship with your professors because when you do and when you are a good student they have more to talk about in your letters since they know you better. Remember they have tons and tons of students (depending on class sizes and university size) and you are probably one more number if you don't take the time to stand out.</p>

<p>Tips:</p>

<p>1) Attend ALL of your classes, unless you have an emergency, or something really important that you have to do. Most professors notice you if they see you everyday sitting in the same spot.
-If you have to miss class for some good reason go talk to them and ask them what he went over in class. He will notice your interest in the class.</p>

<p>2) Ask questions. If you don't understand something ASK! I know it can be embarrassing, and a lot of college students don't ask because they're shy, or insecure about what others might think BUT you are paying for your education get the most out of it.</p>

<p>3) Participate in class. If you have something to add, or comment on, say it. It will make the class more interesting for you and your professor. It's not fun when ONLY the professor does ALL the talking.</p>

<p>4) Talk to him during his office hours if you have any questions (that's what their office hours are for), make use of them. , also ask them how their day is going. Personally I like to go off-topic with them (if they are OK with it) and talk about random subjects not-class-related. </p>

<p>5) Exchange e-mails or call their office. This is a less personal approach than the others, but I guess it can help, but not as much. I wouldn't suggest doing this as much as the other suggestions.</p>

<p>6) Greet them when you see them in the hallways.</p>

<p>7) This is a personal one... but I felt so good about certain professors that I gave them a gift (a pound of Gourmet Coffee). I just wanted to let them know how much I appreciated their time. I also hooked up another professor with some DVDs of a rare documentary he was interested in.</p>

<p>8) At the end of the semester thank them and tell them how much you enjoyed their class and give them any suggestions on how to make their class better.</p>

<p>I'd suggest asking the professors that teach the courses that relate the most to your intended major to write the Rec Letters.</p>

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<p>I think research with the professor whose course you're taking is also a really good way for the professor to get to know you and be better acquainted with your strengths.</p>

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<p>i applied to transfer to schools for junior standing (penn and cornell - accepted only at cornell) but should I subtly ask them to hang on to the recommendations for me if I want to apply to business school or graduate school? (even though I had them freshman and sophomore year?)</p>

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<p>in regards to research...how do you go about asking something like this? I am in my local CC but my current teacher is also a teacher at Carnegie Mellon University so I'd really like a good letter from him. How should I approach him about possible research opportunities.</p>

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<p>Also, how exactly could a student benefit a professor's research, given that the student is not carefully trained in scholarship yet (I assume that the overwhelming majority of undergraduate students aren't advanced enough to produce original thought)?</p>

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<p>Very good post, a sticky indeed.</p>

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<p>Personally I haven't heard of research for the undergrad level...</p>

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<p>Just put yourself in the professor's position. Don't over suck up because it can become nauseating or annoying.</p>

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<p>"Personally I haven't heard of research for the undergrad level..."
Where do you go to school? It's not as uncommon as you think.</p>

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<p>MIT and UNC-Chapel Hill taut undergrad research all the time. It's a huge selling point for them.</p>

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<p>what does taut used in that context mean?</p>

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<p>i think he meant taught</p>

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<p>hi 10 char</p>

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<p>Research at the undergraduate level is not only uncommon.. its often close to a necessity for applying to med school and dental school! Most schools have opportunity for it and it is very important to become involved if you can. Make sure to ask direct questions about it, some schools boast about it, but when you start asking questions it becomes apparent its a lot harder than you think to get involved in it. Ask current (upper-division) students how hard it is to become involved, don't ask an incomming freshman :)</p>

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<p>office hours are probably the best and most realistic/practical way of developing good relations with your prof. not sure i agree with getting them gifts though...a lot of profs will be uncomfortable with that.</p>

<p>oh and its probably worth mentioning that you should pick and choose from that list. doing ALL of those is way over the top in a bad way.</p>

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<p>Step 9) Bribery in the most illegal way possible</p>

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<p>Or alternatively,</p>

<p>Get a loosey-goosey professor to like you and then approach him during his busiest period. There's a slim chance he'll tell you to write the letter yourself email it to him. ;)</p>

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<p>The best way is to suck up suck up suck up, and then apologize for bothering them so much, show eagerness, humility, and gratefulness and youll be in it with every professor</p>

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<p>wow very nice</p>

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<p>The same questions will always get asked here because new (and many old even) members refuse to use the search function. There has to be a half dozen threads stating the exact same things you pointed out, yet 98% of CC it seems refuses to use the search function and will never know about them.</p>

<p>Anyways, the advice is nice but it’s lacking a key element. Actually CARE about your professors and what they’re teaching. If you go to their office hours every day just to BS with them, they are going to know what you’re trying to do. Sucking up is entirely different than developing a good relationship with a prof. they definitely know the difference.</p>