Introduce Yourself to the Instructor
Despite being a relatively large research university, Clemson
prides itself in undergraduate teaching and in having a large percentage
of classes with 30 students or less. But regardless of whether the course
has 20 students or 200, there will always be more students then instructors
in the classroom. You must therefore take the initiative and introduce
yourself to the instructor.
This can be done right before or after class, during office
hours, or at chance meetings on campus. The important thing is to do
it, since a prerequisite for developing a positive relationship with
an instructor is for them to know who you are. In general, you will
find that faculty are very interested in their students as people, not
just as bodies in a classroom, and that they will be happy to get to
know you better.
When you first meet the instructor, tell them a bit about
your background, your interests, and your goals for a college education.
Find out what the instructor likes to do beyond the course subject to
see if you have common interests. Taking the time to establish such
contact early on will often pay benefits later when you need help with
course material, advice on future courses to take, letters of recommendation,
etc.
Another good way to establish relationships with faculty
is to become part of the many diverse student organizations for which
faculty serve as sponsors. The Office of Student Affairs on campus can
provide you with a listing of these organizations and their contact
information.
Having built such relationships can be invaluable when
applying for graduate school or jobs, because those applications typically
require letters of recommendation from faculty. If an instructor knows
you as more that just a student in one of his/her courses, then the
letter they write will have much more impact on a reader. Like good
friendships, such relationships take time to cultivate, so begin getting
to know your faculty as soon as possible
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University, 2000.
Site design by Michael
R. Leigher.
Please direct all comments and/or
suggestions
regarding this web site to: Dr.
Jerry Waldvogel.
