The Value of Office Hours
Written by Julia Yurchesyn
Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash
Have you ever gone to office hours?
Some students are regular office-hour attendees, while there are some who have never attended before at all. It’s always a surprise to me when I hear how many students make it to their final year and haven’t gone to office hours once during that time.
Attending office hours is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself as a student; you get to connect with the professor teaching the course and understand more of what they’re looking for regarding assessments. At the same time, you get to speak with someone who is incredibly knowledgeable about their field of expertise and gain so much more from simply completing the assignments and attending lectures.
Of course, time is limited, so you may not want to attend office hours for all of your classes. However, you may consider attending the office hours of classes that are difficult or that you have a special invested interest in to really get the most out of the class and build a relationship with the professor.
1. Develop A Relationship With Your Professor
By going out of your way to see the professor during their office hours, you usually get valuable one-on-one time with them where you can discuss the class, but also potentially other life things, which establishes a human connection. To the professor, you are no longer just a name, number, or face sitting in a classroom. Rather, you are a person they know. This changes the entire learning process because someone else also cares about your success in the class.
2. Learn More About the Topic
You get so much value out of your education by attending office hours, specifically because you get a chance to really probe deeper into the material. Professors, for the most part, tend to be super excited to talk about their fields of expertise. Especially if you are interested in doing research or if you just find a specific topic interesting, office hours are the perfect opportunity to really discuss what you’re passionate about and what you’re interested in. New avenues and horizons you previously may not have discovered or known about can appear, which really helps as you go along the path of discovering what you want to do.
3. Receive Support for the Class
If a class is extremely difficult/challenging, you should not try to do it alone! Professors are here to help. If you need more practice tackling a specific problem, or if you’re confused about a certain concept, or if you want an explanation about an assessment grade, these are all things that office hours can help you with.
The time I have attended office hours to receive guidance on specific subjects for assistance and additional explanation has been invaluable. Talking over the content with my professors has done wonders for me as I navigated a class and allowed the material to really sink in deep. This, in turn, was great preparation for exam season and due dates for final assignments, which all depend on the prior understanding you built up over previous weeks.
4. Mentorship and Advice
Finally, attending office hours is a wonderful opportunity to receive mentorship if you are interested in pursuing research or a similar career trajectory. You can ask questions about what higher education may look like, how they decided that it was the right path for them, whether they decided to take (a) gap year(s), and how to put together an application for graduate school. Having someone to guide and support you through this process can help you determine what kind of future you might want to have, and how to build the best application you can, or how to best position yourself on the job market for the kind of career you would like to have.
Photo by Tra Nguyen on Unsplash
It's only through attending office hours that I have taken advantage of some of the best opportunities that I have had throughout my degree. It was at the encouragement of one of my professors that I applied to represent SMU at an Undergraduate English conference, because I did not have the confidence in myself to take such a leap. There, I had the incredible privilege of being able to present my work for the first time and also to meet other English students and appreciate their own excellent work.
So, what are some practicals to remember when you’re visiting a professor during their office hours?
First, being friendly and approachable makes a big difference when reaching out to a professor. This demonstrates how you want to make a connection with them and that you’re invested in your education.
Secondly, arrive with something to talk about and questions to ask. Make sure you know what material you want clarified, and that will help the professor answer your questions and give you advice that will be helpful.
Also, going to office hours with an open mind and without set expectations can lead the conversation to topics that otherwise would not have come up. As students, sometimes we get it stuck in our heads that “office-hours” is just us rhyming off a bunch of questions, and then leaving. It can really be more than that, and if we allow the conversation to grow and evolve we could leave with a whole new perspective or opportunity in our hands. Try opening yourself to a world of possibilities!!
Finally, actively listen in the conversation. Take (mental) notes of what they say, and if it’s applicable and helpful to you, implement their advice. It means a lot for a professor when their suggestions and directions for assignments are listened to, because it shows how you value their time. It’s also so rewarding for them to see their students succeed!
Hopefully this article has motivated you to go pay your professor a visit during office hours, especially as finals and the end of the semester come up. The professors I have encountered during my time at SMU have been so helpful to me as a student; reaching out and making that connection can result in discovering some of your most supportive mentors that you will ever meet.