<p>I think I hit it off with my philosophy professor last week. In my last class I was the last student to leave class and we had a good 15 minute conversation about our mutual interest in philosophy. He also said that he thought that philosophy seemed to come naturally to me. Anyways, I ended up telling him I have some aspirations of becoming a professional philosopher and perhaps become a professor or a writer. In response, he invited me to visit his office for advice or grab a cup of coffee. </p>
<p>It was awesome. I feel pretty good that a professor has noticed me. </p>
<p>So, it'd be great to hear any advice from anyone who has had some experience in offers like these. What opportunities do I have? Any good questions or advice I can ask? </p>
<p>All I can think of so far is to keep to being myself since that's working so far. I suppose I can ask if he knows anyone in cal state fullerton (I'm transferring there) that can help me... and his word can open opportunities there via relationships... muahahahaha Thanks, I just want don't want to mess things up.</p>
<p>Sounds like a good chance to do a little professional networking. Just continue with your honest expression of interest in the field. Maybe you can inquire about regional professional philosophy conferences you might attend as a student to see how “real” philosophers interact?</p>
<p>This is early in the school year- has school even started yet? Is this post for real?</p>
<p>If so, there is a difference between a professor announcing office hours to the class and one inviting a student to his office and for coffee. </p>
<p>Sexual harassment is illegal, and I want to be clear that this prof has not crossed a line for now. However, his invitation is ambiguous, and doesn’t indicate a clear boundary. </p>
<p>In this case, the next decision is up to the student. Both student and professor are responsible for professional behavior and boundaries. </p>
<p>Neither should initiate a “friendship” type relationship while the student is enrolled in the class. If the student takes him up on his offer, it could lead to more than a philosophy lesson. IMHO it would not be appropriate to visit the prof privately, accept an invitation for coffee, or make a habit of lingering after class to chat at this time. If you have questions, you can visit during office hours- when the office is open for other students to drop by as well, or bring a classmate with you. </p>
<p>Students can and do develop friendships with professors that don’t lead to anything, but for this to happen, each has to have good boundaries. While the prof has not done anything wrong- you don’t know yet what his boundaries are. Maybe he is just friendly and like this with all his students, but you can observe, wait, and verify this. </p>
<p>I think this looks more like a mentorship type deal. A friend of mine had this type of relationship with one of his political science prof’s and wound up coauthoring a book w/ him while still in undergrad.</p>
<p>Yes, this could become a mentorship arrangement, but in my experience these opportunities arise for students who have shown proficiency and over time, developed a working relationship with the professor. The school year has just started, and even if the student is showing interest, the prof has no idea if that student has any aptitude for the topic or writing. </p>
<p>I’m not saying he has bad intentions, but his invitation is ambiguous and one doesn’t know enough yet to know what his intentions are. </p>
Unless you’ve already submitted several pages of writing in which you responded to a philosophical text, I can’t imagine how a professor could think such a thing. Like literary criticism, philosophy IS writing, and the only way to judge a student’s aptitude for it is by reading the student’s work – usually quite a bit of it.</p>
<p>Is the professor fresh out of graduate school?
Is it possible the professor was simply humoring you?</p>
<p>Some of you are assuming class just started. My DS just had summer finals last week so it’s possible that this was the last class for a summer term…</p>
<p>DH regularly offered more support to students who took an active interest. He’d recommend books, help a kid refine some thinking. Haven’t any other posters ever done office hours with a prof? It would be a shame to lose a chance for some connection, based on speculation, at this point. </p>
<p>Of course a kid can express himself well in a short conversation. All the prof offered, afawk, is talk. </p>
<p>For everyones information… this is a community college professor. I still want to reap the benefits (in a moral way) of this opportunity though. Maybe he knows someone at cal state fullerton? Also… I’m a guy and the professor is a guy… chances of “funny stuff” are unlikely because I’m straight and he seems straight too. </p>
<p>@stradmom Now that’s the advice I was looking for thank you I shall ask him about such things. </p>
<p>@pennylane201 Thanks for the heads up, but I doubt he’s homosexual. I’m very outspoken in class and I think Ive shown some of my potential merit. (I feel vain saying that, sorry) Also, I’m about to finish my summer class with him. The class is ending… not starting. </p>
<p>@Wasatchwrter I’m very outspoken in class, one of the most outspoken students and I believe I’ve done well. He acknowledged that some of the things I’ve said were a bit sophisticated. Also, the class is about to end. It’s a summer class and it was about 6 weeks. I’ve submitted a midterm essay before the conversation. This isn’t the first time a professor has taken note of my philosophical skill. (feel vain, sorry) An English professor once told me that all my ideas were phenomenal and an economics professor also invited me to his office hours and his highest complement to me was when he said, “look at yourself, your gonna make something out of yourself.” So, as vain as it sounds, I personally believe I have some potential and I think professors take note of that too. I think this looks like a legit opportunity. </p>
<p>@michigangeorgia Your right. It’s a summer class.</p>
<p>Thanks guys, his class is gonna start in a few hours. I’ll ask him when’s a good time to see him in his office. He’s a part-time professor, no official office hours and his syllabus says, “by appointment.” He’s a really cool and funny guy. Actually he is one of the funniest professors I’ve ever had in my life. He cracked a joke like half the time he was talking. They were fairly wholesome jokes too. Come to think of it… it’d be awesome to be mentored by this guy. </p>
<p>Any more ideas? You guys keep it coming. (crosses fingers)</p>
<p>Ask about professional associations and meetings, journals, the PHD process, academic careers, the trades, learning to teach. Career development stuff. Sounds like a good relationship starting. </p>
<p>Oh for goodness sakes! Not everything is fraught with peril!!! Of course @Israel777 is going to use his common sense and not get involved in some sort of sketchy situation (really people? I’m making a kierkegaardian leap of faith that you have not often used epistemology or a priori reasoning as part of a pickup line). At many, many institutions, professors are encouraged to meet with students informally over coffee to mentor them, and at all institutions, a professor who spots a kindred intellectual soul is likely to offer perfectly legitimate and aboveboard support.</p>
<p>Now that I know the prof is a part timer, my evaluation is that he’s teaching because he loves the subject and wants to share that enthusiasm with others. (Goodness knows, adjunct professors don’t get into the business for the money.) Whether or not he’ll turn out to have any “useful” networking value remains to be seen, but IMHO this could be an opportunity to explore a potential career path or even just an intellectual interest.</p>
<p>Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. (And sometimes it’s the essence of a cigar. But I digress.)</p>
I shall ask him about such things. </p>