*Just curious* Does anyone keep in touch with some of their professors?

<p>I'm talking about the ones that really made an impact on you.
For those who do, how do you tell if they enjoy your company? Would they say "you're always welcome" if they didnt like you?</p>

<p>I don’t think it hurts to touch bases with past professors every few months. If you really liked them and they’ve extended the offer, why not? In the future you may decide to go to grad school and need a letter of rec or a job reference.</p>

<p>Seriously, again?
Yes.</p>

<p>Oh my. Yet again, yes, but not to the extent that you’re doing it. </p>

<p>If you honestly care about this professor that you had last summer, don’t see him every week. Just leave him alone for a while. A lot of times the phrase “you’re always welcome” is cordial, and after a while, you might become unwelcome. </p>

<p>Saying that, just don’t abuse it. If it feels forced to you, then stop. Just let it play out naturally.</p>

<p>This is thread number 7 that you’ve posted about this topic.</p>

<p>You are too obsessed with the professor in question. You had a class with them for a few weeks over the summer. You have posted 7 threads about them, while expressing a desire to stop in and “say hi” once or twice a week, give them gifts, invite them over for dinner, and numerous other things. Either you are a ■■■■■, or you’re simply convinced for some reason that you’re going to start getting different responses.</p>

<p>There is nothing wrong with keeping in touch with a professor that you formed a bond with. But there’s a very clear distinction between simply “keeping in touch” and “obsessively stalking them.” As mentioned above, the phrase “you’re always welcome,” does not mean “I’m perfectly okay with you stopping in twice a week.” Despite the impact that this professor apparently left on you, odds are that you are little more than “just another student” to them. Sure, professors form more of a bond with some students than they do with others…but it’s important to realize that they have thousands of students over their careers. </p>

<p>I highly suggest that you talk to someone about the feelings you’re having regarding this professor, because these feelings are not normal.</p>

<p>Jessica, has this always happened to you? Do you find that you grow really attached to teachers and that you think about them all the time? Do you constantly try to please them and impress them? Do you just really want them to notice and appreciate you? </p>

<p>I’ve heard that things like this do happen, and sometimes, it can’t really be helped. People in positions of authority leave some sort of impression on certain people and fill some kind of void. I’m obviously not a psychiatrist or a doctor or anything, but I think we all can tell that something is off here. It could be something as simple as having some kind of chemical imbalance. </p>

<p>Sorry to derail the thread and I’m sorry if I offended you in any way, but I just want to make sure that you’re okay. It was made clear from all your previous threads that this isn’t normal behavior, so I don’t really know what else to say. I think it’s time for you to put some distance between yourself and this professor and see if the feelings calm down after a while.</p>

<p>yes, I have kept in touch with professors, and by that I mean I would email them once a semester.</p>

<p>What is it that you want people to say that they haven’t already said to you?</p>

<p>To those of you who are leaving hurtful comments,</p>

<p>This professor has helped me through a lot. My family lives in another state and I am unable to talk to them for many reasons, which I will not mention. I have also experienced a ca death in the family and I was unable to even go to the funeral. Another vey close family member had to have emergency surgery the other day, and another almost passed away from an illness Not to mention close friends of mine stabbed me in the back.</p>

<p>This professor has “taken me under his wing” so to speak. He has stated I am always welcome, and he has asked me to keep in touch. We always have nice conversations, and you can tell he likes me stopping by. We are always joking around and having fun.</p>

<p>So before you start writing things like you have above, take into account what the other person is going through.</p>

<p>I’m sorry for what you’re going through, but if you don’t want to hear other posters comments, why do you keep posting threads on the same issue? The responses will likely be the same (or at the very least, very similar).</p>

<p>Just do what feels right. It’s your life, and you’re the only one that knows the whole situation.</p>

<p>Jessica, I am confused as to why you’re asking how to tell if the professor likes you if you say you can tell that he does?</p>

<p>I’m sorry that you’ve been going through a lot. That’s hard, and I feel for you. </p>

<p>It’s great that someone has taken you under their wing and has helped you through this, but again, don’t let it get out of hand. As I’ve said before, keeping in touch is normal and good as long as it’s handled appropriately. If your professor jokes and laughs with you all the time, then perhaps you are going about it the right way. We can’t know the entire situation and dynamics simply from online threads. </p>

<p>With all of the things going on in your life, I would still advise seeing someone at your school’s health center. As good as he might be to you, your professor isn’t and shouldn’t be a private counselor to you. There are “people” for that. I’ve been through a lot of things myself, and I’ve found that talking to people at the health center helps. I’m not crazy or anything; I’m just someone who benefits from talking stuff over with someone who knows how to respond and how to help me. </p>

<p>I’ve also talked to some of my professors about personal stuff, but that’s a very fine line you have to walk on. As people in positions of authority over you, it’s not exactly appropiate to tell them your deepest, darkest secrets or to cry in their arms (not saying that you or anyone I know does this. I’m just saying it as an example.). They’re human and sure they care if one of their students is going through a hard time, but it’s not really their job to play Mom or Dad. </p>

<p>I’m sorry if any of my comments are hurtful to you. I just find myself a little baffled at seeing the same question posed so many times, and I just want to get a better understanding of where you’re coming from.</p>

<p>Look, I have a professor that I’m very close to. He acted like a father when we were on study abroad and I got very ill. He helped me a lot with that and other personal and family crises and I still email back and forth even now that I’ve graduated. </p>

<p>But this is your sixth or so thread on this exact same topic. What else do you want us to say? I’m sorry for what you’re going through but there’s really nothing else to say on the topic that wasn’t said in the several other threads you started.</p>

<p>On the somewhat “light/funny” side, one of DS’s professors seemingly played the role of “matchmaker” for him and another of his students - at least they are curious enough to ask about it.</p>

<p>At his school, there are a couple (both are professors) who are kind enough to invite several students to their home for dinner, usually during the Thanksgiving holiday (for the students who do not go home.) DS was invited twice in the past few years so they knew DS and several of his classmates well (the class size is not large.)</p>

<p>While the professor gave DS a ride to his home in the suburban area, he asked whether DS has had some bf/gf relationship or any “relationship” interest with a particular classmate of his. It was interesting that he would even notice this. I heard they were in the same projects many times by accident in the past few years, but it does not mean that they have already developed that kind of relationship between them. It is as if these two professors(husband/wife) like to see some “happily after” ending between some of their students :)</p>

<p>As others have already said, I’m sorry to hear about what you’re going through. That’s a rough situation, but I don’t really understand why you’re posting a 6th-7th thread on this topic. You’ve posted quite a few threads asking basically this same question. I don’t know if you’re just hoping for different answers or what, but you’re probably not going to get them.</p>

<p>This is the first time you’ve mentioned the above. If this professor truly has ‘taken you under his wing,’ then that’s a slightly different story. If he’s made it clear that he ‘honestly’ does not mind you stopping in a lot, then it’s a different story. But the number of threads you’ve posted about this still makes it seem like your interest is a bit more than what you may have led on in your posts. Just don’t let yourself get too close to him.</p>