Office Hours: A Crash Course
SaveOver your years at college, you'll grow more confident at navigating office hours on your own; until then, here are some tips to help you get started.
It's your first week of classes, and every syllabus in your new collection includes a recommendation to make use of the professor's office hours. As student orientation draws to a close, your guide concludes with the reminder, "don't forget to go to office hours!" When you call home, your eager relatives ask about your new friends, your dorm, and whether or not you've been to office hours. Office hours are on everyone's minds and in everyone's recommendations to freshmen — but what exactly are they? More importantly, how do you use them well?
By now, the number of times someone has urged you to go to office hours may create a sensation of anxiety or even dread around the idea. If that's true, allow yourself to dismiss those feelings — office hours don't need to be stressful! They simply allow you to stop by your professor's desk and ask a question.
If they're so simple, you may ask, why does everyone make such a big deal about them? The answer is that those office hours — when used well — can hugely benefit your performance in a class and your long-term development as a student. They're a valuable resource that every student should utilize.
Over your years at college, you'll grow more confident at navigating office hours on your own; until then, here are some tips to help you get started.
Check the Syllabus First
At the start of the semester, your professors will hand out syllabi containing deadlines, contact information, and protocol for office hours. Be sure to keep those syllabi in a safe location so you can access them easily, and consider taking a picture to check deadlines even when you're away from your desk.
Your professor will generally encourage you to contact them in advance to ensure they're available to meet when you arrive at their office. Some professors encourage their students to send an email reserving a particular timeslot. Others may have a physical calendar on their office doors with various open times to select. Still, others don't keep to a pre-determined schedule. You should contact these professors individually to set up a time to meet. Rather than assuming all of your professors will use the same protocol, check your syllabi to determine the methods most effectively reach each professor.
Sign Up or Show Up?
Some professors welcome drop-by appointments, especially if they teach at small universities where they have the time available to meet with students individually. At large schools where professors lecture to several hundred students at once, your odds of showing up the exact moment they happen to be free are far lower.
Use good judgment when you're deciding whether or not to make an appointment in advance. Remember, even if your professor is open to drop-by appointments, you are never guaranteed their time if you always elect to show up rather than sign up. For an informal conversation — such as asking for an expansion on a literary device in the English reading — just dropping by to see if your professor happens to be free should be fine. However, sign up for a specific appointment rather than trusting to chance if you need to clarify an element of the material that will be crucial for next week's midterm.
Don't Limit Yourself to the Readings
When you arrive for office hours, allow yourself to ask about more than just the course materials. Although your professor is teaching you about a specific time period, historical figure, book, or branch of science in this class, their expertise is broader than that narrow topic — you don't need to limit yourself to discussing that exclusively. Instead, consider inquiring about additional context for an author or idea, analyzing your argument for an upcoming paper, or getting suggestions for further reading about topics that fascinate you.
Finally, ensure that you have pens or pencils that are comfortable to write with and produce easy-to-read text. For example, a bolder line may be helpful if you have large handwriting, but those with small handwriting may prefer a fine point. Whatever you choose, it's well worth investing in quality writing utensils—they're relatively cheap, and no one wants to be stuck in class with an old pen that won't write.
Talk to Potential Advisors and Mentors
If your professor has expressed willingness to mentor students, consider setting up an office hours appointment specifically to receive their advice on academic or professional growth. On a practical level, they may have recommendations about particular classes or internships that would benefit your post-graduation plans. On a more abstract note, their example may motivate you to grow as an individual. In either case, taking the time to gradually develop a mentor-mentee relationship with particular professors during your years at university can be extremely valuable.
In general, professors are more open to advising students who plan to major in their academic discipline than those outside it, simply because their expertise and connections are more relevant within that field. For example, a neuroscientist's highly-specialized background will prepare them to mentor pre-med students but won't be particularly useful to a pre-law student. However, this is not a hard and fast rule; sometimes, similarity in a background or shared religious affiliation motivates students to go to particular professors for advice, regardless of field.
The most important thing to remember about searching for an advisor is that you cannot force a mentorship to develop. Many professors — particularly those who serve as a department's pre-professional program advisor — already mentor many students and don't have the time to add another to the list. Others may seem to be a good match on paper but have a personality that clashes with yours and makes you ill-suited to working together. If this happens to you, consider widening your search to find other faculty members who may be willing to mentor you. Do not be discouraged if you don't find an advisor during your freshman year; many students haven't even decided on their major yet, so you are in no way behind.
Ceanna Hayes Daniels
Ceanna Hayes Daniels is freelance writer and editor. In 2022, she graduated Hillsdale College summa cum laude with a degree in politics. In her free time, she continues to enjoy studying philosophy, political theory, and literature. She and her husband live in Michigan, where the two enjoy perusing bookstores together for new books and old records.Articles & Advice
Featured Articles from The SAGE Scholars Benefit
Ten Minute Professor: A 5th Year of College Is Expensive
Wellness Tips for Students
