Do I Really Need to Meet My Professors?

So now you're in college, and everyone is telling you to get to know your professors. It doesn't seem like a big deal - there's no way the entire class has met the professor, and even if they did there's no way he'd remember. But you're wrong. Getting to know your professors can be a huge benefit to your college experience, and not just because they’re pretty cool people. Here are some reasons why you should set up a meeting with your professors today.

Secure your recommendations

No matter what you plan on doing, there's undoubtedly going to come a time that you'll need recommendations for something, whether it be an internship, leadership position, scholarship, or something else altogether. And there's a good chance at least one of those recommendations will be expected from a professor. If you want a shining recommendation, the best way to do that is to make sure the professor knows your name and how hard you're working.

And pro tip: when you ask them if they're willing and able to write you a recommendation, have a copy of your resume ready in case they ask for a reminder of how awesome you are.

Get started with research

A huge designator between college students is research. Participating in a research project is one of the best indicators of determination and problem solving capabilities, but more importantly it’s a great reason to talk to your professors! Many of the university’s professors participate in some sort of research, and if you're friends with a professor in the field you want to pursue, it's easy to get involved with something you're likely to be interested in. If you aren't, you’re just putting off the inevitable - you'll be getting to know the professor by working with them anyways.

Avert a crisis.

Crises are inevitable in college, and considering your parents are probably going to be fairly far away, it might be good to have a professor you're comfortable with to ask questions. Whether you're having problems getting into classes, need advice to decide between two epic jobs, or you’re just struggling to keep up with your assignments - they’re a good resource to have.

Get to know pretty cool people.

As experts in their fields, most professors have really cool stories! They might have been in a boy band, they might have funny stories about blowing up a lab or two, they might even know an amazing shortcut to separating an egg yolk from the egg whites - you'll never know if you don't talk to them.

Free lunch?

In semesters past, UVA has had a Take Your Professor To Lunch program, where you get $15 per person to get to know your professors over a meal at any on-grounds location. Currently the program is on hold, but when it’s back up and running again I encourage you to try it out. Even if you don't make a lifelong friend, you'll at least get some free food out of the deal. Who can argue with that?

So go talk to your professor. Seriously. You never know what doors it can open.

Got to know a really cool professor? Have a tried and true strategy for initiating the conversation? Share your stories below!