I don’t want to seem like I’m a brown nosing or something because I don’t need help with anything else at the moment. I just like talking to him.
Just to chat - yeah, a bit much.
Those hours are designated for talking to/helping students. I would say that if there are other students there asking questions, then let them go before you “just talk”. Also if your professor gives you any hints that they think the conversation is getting too much into a personal area…Like “Did you have any more questions about the class?” then back off. Other wise go ahead!
Agree with @bopper . Part of school is getting more involved in a subject and having a discussion with your prof is a great way to do that. Finding a mentor is also important. As said above, make sure that others get a chance to get the help they need before you take time for chatting. There may be social opportunities with the prof, too, that you can ask about. Some schools the prof takes the class on outings or will break the class into smaller sections to meet with them and get to know them better.
The majority of D’s professors seem to enjoy the personal interaction (not to the exclusion of student’s who need help) and often join in for debates over coffee and social conversations around an ice cream cone. She has been asked to babysit for families and offered an assistant admin position with one of the prof spouses’ company. Low-level networking at its best lol.
I don’t think so. Having office hours/helping students is a part of their job and that’s part of what they’re paid for. You’re paying tuition so I think you should be able to go as much as you want/see fit without hesitancy.
I agree–as long as folks asking and needing class-related help finish all their Qs and get what they need, going to office hours is a good way to better get to know prof for possible recommendations and networking, etc.
Yes, 2 days in a row just to talk is too much. 2 days in a row for specific class-related questions is fine.
Too much may be too much. I don’t know, in your case. But I told mine to go in with an intelligent question, even if they had to make one up. Most profs like some attention of that sort. Make it a good question for discussion, let him see you’re thinking about the material.
I don’t think going to professor’s office hours has to be limited to the material. Professors in my exprience like to chat with students unless they are extraordinarily busy or have to help other students
It is the two days in a row that is too much when there are no questions about the material. The prof is likely to think, why is this guy back again?
Sticking your head in the door and saying “hi prof” is fine. Sitting down and chatting about the weather is too much.
Now that I’m on the other side of office hours, yeah, I feel like going in with no real agenda two days in a row would be a bit excessive. Don’t get me wrong – I love it when my students pop in to talk to me about class/writing, and we usually shift and talk about non-school stuff for a couple minutes when their questions are answered. But after a few minutes it gets awkward.
I’ve noticed this as a student myself, too – my professors usually have meetings after our appointments, so shooting the breeze cuts into their time. I’d suggest saving your visit for when you have some school-related things to talk about/if you become closer to the prof where shooting the breeze is welcome.
Going to the professor’s office hours is a good thing. That’s part of why they’re paid. They like helping students. You benefit from their help. That being said, it’s also important to respect their time (because they are busy grading lots of papers).
I go with specific questions and an agenda. I try not to stay for more than 5-10 mins.
I’d say it depends on what you’re going there to “just talk” about. Are you interested in discussing the topic beyond the scope of the class? Did the professor hold some position before the current one that you’re interested in? Are you and the professor from the same minority group and you’re looking for a role model? Are you literally just making small talk?
Does your school have "take a prof to lunch " events or something along those lines? They are specifically intended for general, out of office, conversations. That could fit the bill perfectly.
I’ve been on the other side too (as a TA and a lead instructor) and I would say no, it’s not too much, although it does depend. I enjoyed talking to my students and encouraged them to come by my office hours even if they just wanted to ask questions about graduate school and academic life, or just life in general, and wanted to talk to me. Some of them did (especially my summer students). That’s what office hours are for. Some of them also asked me to lunch or coffee to just chat and get to know me and I usually accepted those too.
Of course, professors are people and they all differ. Some may be annoyed.