Professors: An Underused Tool for Success

Some words of wisdom from ARC Consultant Maddie Schubert

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The start of a new semester always brings a sense of being overwhelmed and underprepared. Well, let’s be honest . . .  so does the end of a semester. And the middle. And all those weeks in between. Realistically, college is a lot of work, and there is always another set of challenges to be faced, whether that’s an insurmountable workload, a concept you don’t understand, or an assignment that makes no sense.

While there are many tools and tricks to cope with these tasks, the one I have found to be most useful is often overlooked: professors. Here at George Fox, the professors truly care about the success and learning of the student. Although they may seem to have awfully high expectations, they almost always are willing to provide the support it takes to meet those expectations. Most professors love to help students and enjoy getting to know you on a one-on-one basis—so give them the opportunity to do both of these things!

           

There are many ways to utilize professors as a resource. However, I have found that two of the most helpful methods are to talk to them either through email or during their office hours. Keep in mind that these two methods of communication are most helpful for different types of questions (e.g. if you are expecting an in-depth explanation of how Quantum Physics works, you probably should not ask in an email).

Email them with simple questions about:

• Expectations for homework
• Due Dates
• Page/word limits
• Description of assignments
• Basic concepts

Visit during office hours about:

• Past assignments
• Ways to improve your work
• Help formulating ideas for assignments
• Suggestions about thesis statements
• Individual help with more complicated concepts

Personally, I rarely contacted professors in my first few years of school. However, I took one class that required one-on-one meetings, and I was amazed at how much I learned from thirty minutes with a professor. In that same class, we were also encouraged to email the professor when we were confused, and much of my stress magically disappeared as soon as my questions were answered.

Because of this experience, I now frequently contact my professors, and I feel as though I am learning more and worrying less. My one regret is that I did not start utilizing the resource until the end of my college career! I encourage you to just try seeking help from your professors. If your experience is like mine, you will find that they love interacting with students and are willing to be flexible and to accommodate your needs.