<p>Any advice on how to develop strong, genuine relationships with professors who'll be writing recommendations? How does a student highlight his or her strengths so that they will be noticed and noted on the letters? This past year, I participated and went to office hours only when I felt the need to say, discuss, and/or ask something. Is this enough? I did this quite frequently, but I didn't take it up to the level where I'd have coffee with the professor (this is not the norm here, but should I aim for this?). I'm especially interested in hearing from those who've already gotten into their schools of choice.</p>
<p>I think that what you did is what you have to do... I don't know how much/often you did it... I'm sure you should know more if it was enough or not. Personally I've never had coffee with professors or anything like that. I've talked about things off the class-subject in their office, I'm sure this is positive. I'm not an International Student but I grew up/lived in another country, my family back home owns Coffee Farms so I gave a pound of Gourmet Coffee to some professors, not as a bribe or anything, but as a good gesture and appreciation for being such good teachers. I'm sure all of that helps.</p>
<p>Probably a sign to know if they know you enough is if the call you by your name.</p>
<p>Just a few suggestions on what I've done.. good luck.</p>
<p>I'm very interested in this topic as well, so if anybody has some insight that would be great.</p>
<p>I think its about impress your professors and make your classmates look like dumbasses. Just stand out. </p>
<p>For example, I took a investment profilo class last semster with about 40 ppl, just kind of crowded and etc, I was the the only freshman there and I studied my heart out. I read a lot material than I needed to and was able to answer a lot of the questions in class. We had some papers that I would just spent weeks on and I made sure that they were amazingly perfect before turning them in. I also asked intelligent questions outside of class and as a result I developed a very good relationship with the professor; we even had lunches and played golf.</p>
<p>Yeah, they know me by name. One time, a professor asked me to come to her office to talk about my paper (which was already an A, btw, so I wasn't in trouble or anything), but I couldn't make it at the time. I felt bad, but if I had known I'd be asking for a rec, I would've made it a point to go. </p>
<p>Basically, if I have a slightly off-topic question that I feel needs to be asked, I wait until outside of class to ask it (I figured that unenthusiastic students in the class wouldn't appreciate it, and it would also get the professor slightly off-track). Do you think I should continue asking in-depth questions outside of class or should I start asking in class? It seems that students here ask questions only for clarification purposes, and I feel like I'm wasting my time by going in-depth into a subject in which I have nuanced knowledge.</p>
<p>I also approach professors outside of class when they bring up something that I distinctly remember reading about in a book (say, stuff from the Third Chimpanzee comes up in an anthropology class). My anthro professor happens to share my enthusiasm for current events as they relate to anthropology. He reads the NY Times on a daily basis (as do I), but I also bring up anthro-related articles from The Economist. I like listening to his criticism of scientific journalism. </p>
<p>So, I've done these things. I just want to step it up a bit for my next set of professors. </p>
<p>I think that reading the books/articles they published could be seen as trying-hard? Especially if the topics are esoteric. I love to read anthro/socio stuff in general, but my sociology teachers' books happened to be PMS, a subject which, on the surface, does not interest me.</p>
<p>hey, that's awesome, hello_motto. If only I could strengthen my relationships from last year... but I won't be taking any classes this fall with professors I developed the strongest relationships with. It just so happens that I'll be taking a course with the same professor that I had last fall (newly designed course, and he is the only professor teaching it), but I didn't get to know him outside of class. I did participate in class, and he remembers my name when I see him around campus.</p>
<p>Check this out.. I just compiled some stuff that might be helpful</p>
<p>Hey thanks, I appreciate it. What are your education plans for next year?</p>
<p>I'll be done with most of my classes this Fall 07.. I plan on working a bit Spring 08 and probably take a course or two and apply for Fall 08... how about you?</p>
<p>Let me know if I can be of any help.</p>