How to Befriend a Professor

It's important that you know how to befriend a professor. Not only will it potentially help your grade a little, but your professor may become a valuable asset as you climb your career ladder. Your professor may become your mentor and recommend you to jobs. Here's how to really get to know your professor.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Notice how your professor teaches their classes. If they're more formal lectures, then this person's probably a more formal person and may not be as open to befriending as other professors. If the teacher is less structured and runs discussions, then they may be a little more casual and a little more open to spending time with a student.

2. Keep the beginning relationship restricted to your fields of expertise. Don't start off asking your professor if they've seen a specific TV show or a movie. Instead, start off asking them questions about their lecture or ask for further clarification about something you read in a textbook or journal.

3. Let the professor take the relationship to the next personal level, talking about movies, friends and TV shows. Professors are extremely busy people and probably don't have the time to actually become friends with their students. They can be friendly and help students attain their goals, but probably won't be someone you hang out with after graduation.

4. Make sure you don't take the relationship to a sexual or romantic level. If you feel the professor is interested in you in this way, address the issue or simply back off. If you feel uncomfortable or threatened, go to your professor's supervisor.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid bringing gifts to your professors, as these may look like bribes. If you really want to get them something, give it to them after grades are out.

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