How to Navigate College Academic Life: Speaking to Faculty and Advocating for Yourself
Advocating for yourself to faculty can be difficult. I once heard a professor tell me that "closed mouths don't get fed." It was a strange way to put it, but I didn't see their words turn into reality until I was a first-year at college. Because I couldn't advocate for myself, my grades dropped, and I couldn't juggle all my responsibilities. I have learned a lot since then, and I am here to give you the rundown on how to advocate for yourself in college successfully.
Let us start with professors! College professors are waiting for you to reach out to them first, ten times out of ten!
Why Should I Build a Relationship with Professors?
Building a relationship with your professors is an intelligent investment of your time. Professors are valuable to helping you throughout the college experience and into your professional life.
A few things your professors may help with include: helping you understand class material better, connecting you to campus resources, becoming a part of your professional network, and speaking on your talents if you decide to apply to a graduate school, internship, or job.
When it comes to college professors, ten times out of ten they’re expecting you to reach out to them first. This means advocating for yourself is especially important.
Starting the Semester With a Personal Touch
I suggest taking the initiative to meet with your professors at the beginning of the semester. When you do this, it shows that you want to take the time to get to know them. Plus, office hours tend to get very busy after syllabus week, so you want to get your foot in the door while you have a chance.
One of the best ways to get started is by sending an email introducing yourself during your first week of classes.
Here is an example of an email you could send:
Introduction:
Dear [Professor's Name],
Greeting:
I hope this email finds you well.
Introduce yourself:
My name is [Name] and I am a [class-year] at [school name]. I am currently enrolled in your [Class Name]. I am excited to learn about [class subject + specific subject area you're interested in learning about]. I want to discuss the subject material; however, your office hours conflict with [xyz]. Could we set up another time?
Closing:
Thank you, and I look forward to the semester.
Signature:
Sincerely/Regards,
[Your Name]
[University Name, Class Year]
[Email and Phone Number]
Remember to use the email address that your school opened for you, a bonus point for a picture in your signature, and a sign-off with your contact information. As always, use proper grammar and sentence structure!
Office Hours Etiquette
Now that you’ve made that first touch-point and are ready to meet with your professors, let’s discuss how to prepare with some office hours etiquette tips.
These are a few important tips to remember.
Do not wait until the last minute to reach out: Make sure that when you go to office hours, you are giving yourself and the professor ample time to discuss an upcoming assignment.
Take notes: You do not want to forget anything the professor says, especially regarding an assignment; always take notes.
Have a plan for your meeting: Professors will often let you lead the discussion to answer all your questions. Prepare a list of questions beforehand that you'd like to ask.
Introduce yourself: Start the meeting off with some light conversation by introducing yourself and asking the professor how their day is going.
When Else Should You Connect with Professors
The first week of classes should not be the only time you’re building a relationship with your professors! First, you should be regularly participating in class discussions to ensure that the professor knows you well. There are also several other times that you should take the time to meet with your professor.
A few examples are:
When you have missed class.
Always communicate with your professors about lateness and absences. Whether you’re asking to review material or
asking questions about material you missed, it shows that you are consistently learning the material.
When you are confused about the material.
This is another example of showing that you are applying yourself to learn the material.
When something sparks your interest.
You don’t have to be confused about the material to bring it up to the professor! If you are interested in a particular area
of the class and want to explore it further, this is a great time to approach your professor. This also gives you the
opportunity to learn more about the professor.
When you’re unsure about a grade.
If you recently received a grade you didn’t agree with, have a discussion with your professor about what mistakes you
made and how you can improve for the next assignment.
You Got This!
Advocating for yourself can bring jitters and nervousness, but most professors are waiting for you to join them during office hours! I found it especially difficult to advocate for myself because of my imposter syndrome as a first-generation student. It is essential to have compassion for yourself and this nervousness because it is entirely normal. Create a plan for yourself, and celebrate every step you take because you are taking the initiative.
If you'd like further help with advocating for yourself or you would like more tips on how to navigate college, S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting is here to help you! Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or thoughts!