Getting to know science professors

[ruieu]

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I've been browsing through some old threads about getting to know science professors, but I feel like I still have some questions I didn't find answers to.

1. I'm planning to get to know my biochemistry professor this semester, but so far the material in the class has been relatively easy so I don't have that many questions. I was planning to come up with a few questions about the material and then also talk about interesting research I've read about the material, but I'm worried that the material is too simple? (ex. We are still covering the basics of proteins and just got done with water and hydrogen bonding). Would this be a good approach?

2. My biochemistry professor's research does not interest me too much, in cases like this, should I focus mainly on the course material?

3. Is it better to get to know professors that teach upper level courses rather than the prerequisite courses that have hundreds of students? I'm currently a sophomore and I'm worried that the professors I get to know this semester might not remember me when it comes time to ask for LORs. Should I spend more effort getting to know professors next year for my junior courses instead?

I don't want to sound like I'm just concerned with getting LORs out of professors, I'm just uncertain about this whole process.

Thanks for helping me out!

 

[Mr. Babe]

I've been browsing through some old threads about getting to know science professors, but I feel like I still have some questions I didn't find answers to.

1. I'm planning to get to know my biochemistry professor this semester, but so far the material in the class has been relatively easy so I don't have that many questions. I was planning to come up with a few questions about the material and then also talk about interesting research I've read about the material, but I'm worried that the material is too simple? (ex. We are still covering the basics of proteins and just got done with water and hydrogen bonding). Would this be a good approach?

2. My biochemistry professor's research does not interest me too much, in cases like this, should I focus mainly on the course material?

3. Is it better to get to know professors that teach upper level courses rather than the prerequisite courses that have hundreds of students? I'm currently a sophomore and I'm worried that the professors I get to know this semester might not remember me when it comes time to ask for LORs. Should I spend more effort getting to know professors next year for my junior courses instead?

I don't want to sound like I'm just concerned with getting LORs out of professors, I'm just uncertain about this whole process.

Thanks for helping me out!

Whether you have questions about the material or not, you need to go talk with them. Just introduce yourself to them and let them know that you're hoping to get a LOR from them for the course. This will get them thinking about you and the letter the whole semester. Then you can ask about the keys to success for the course or anything else that you deem valuable information. Then you need to go to work and get an A so that you can get the best letter possible. It doesn't matter if you have questions or not, you're going to want to visit your professor often so that they can get to know you. If you're not interested in their research, fake it til you make it because Profs love to talk about their research. It doesn't matter if they teach a huge class or a small class, they just need to see you often and they'll remember you.

 

[chilis]

I've been browsing through some old threads about getting to know science professors, but I feel like I still have some questions I didn't find answers to.

1. I'm planning to get to know my biochemistry professor this semester, but so far the material in the class has been relatively easy so I don't have that many questions. I was planning to come up with a few questions about the material and then also talk about interesting research I've read about the material, but I'm worried that the material is too simple? (ex. We are still covering the basics of proteins and just got done with water and hydrogen bonding). Would this be a good approach?

2. My biochemistry professor's research does not interest me too much, in cases like this, should I focus mainly on the course material?

3. Is it better to get to know professors that teach upper level courses rather than the prerequisite courses that have hundreds of students? I'm currently a sophomore and I'm worried that the professors I get to know this semester might not remember me when it comes time to ask for LORs. Should I spend more effort getting to know professors next year for my junior courses instead?

I don't want to sound like I'm just concerned with getting LORs out of professors, I'm just uncertain about this whole process.

Thanks for helping me out!

Why do you want to get to know your biochem professor? If it's only to get a LOR, have the decency to tell him upfront.

"Hi Dr. ___. I'm doing pretty well in class so far, and I was hoping you could write me a great recommendation letter when the class is over. I'd like to help you get to know me better too, but I feel kind of bad taking up your time when I don't have questions right now about the class. Is there anything else we could talk about that wouldn't be wasting your time?"

 

[infectiousdisease101]

Why do you need to look up how to build relationships with professors? Professors are like any other people. Stay away from the ones that are icky and/or not compatible with you. For the ones you feel like you connected well with, stay in touch tell them more about yourself.

One of my non-science professors (who will be my letter writer) I got her hooked into biomedical research and now I'll giving her insight to human evolution.

If you cannot stand out in a classroom to get strong LORs, how can you expect to stand out in a pool of thousands of applicants?

 

[infectiousdisease101]

Whether you have questions about the material or not, you need to go talk with them. Just introduce yourself to them and let them know that you're hoping to get a LOR from them for the course. This will get them thinking about you and the letter the whole semester. Then you can ask about the keys to success for the course or anything else that you deem valuable information. Then you need to go to work and get an A so that you can get the best letter possible. It doesn't matter if you have questions or not, you're going to want to visit your professor often so that they can get to know you. If you're not interested in their research, fake it til you make it because Profs love to talk about their research. It doesn't matter if they teach a huge class or a small class, they just need to see you often and they'll remember you.

This is terrible advice (IMO). Letting them know you see them as a means to an end and not an actual person is a horrible way to get a strong LOR. Besides, there's the professor rule that dictates no letter from anyone you got less than an A- in. You don't know what grade you'll get yet and biochem is not an easy course.

 

[JonathanHusky]

I've been browsing through some old threads about getting to know science professors, but I feel like I still have some questions I didn't find answers to.

1. I'm planning to get to know my biochemistry professor this semester, but so far the material in the class has been relatively easy so I don't have that many questions. I was planning to come up with a few questions about the material and then also talk about interesting research I've read about the material, but I'm worried that the material is too simple? (ex. We are still covering the basics of proteins and just got done with water and hydrogen bonding). Would this be a good approach?

sometimes I would ask one of my professors questions I already knew the answers to during office hours just to show her I was interested in the material and making an effort to get help if I needed it... it's still early in the class, wait a few weeks for the material to pick up and then I'm sure you can come up with a few questions to ask...and try to get to know a few of your professors, both lower level and upper level science courses, so you have a few options when it comes time to ask for LORs

does your school offer committee letters?

 

[ruieu]

does your school offer committee letters?

My school doesn't offer committee letters because the premed student body is too large. :-(

 

[ruieu]

Thanks for all your responses! Another question I have is, if I do not need the LOR until I begin applying the summer before senior year, do I hold off on asking for one until then?

 

[infectiousdisease101]

Thanks for all your responses! Another question I have is, if I do not need the LOR until I begin applying the summer before senior year, do I hold off on asking for one until then?

I ask them right away to get an idea of where my letter pool stands.

 

[BBBallIsLife]

I encourage you to get to know your profs not just for the letter, but b/c you actually want to develop a friendship with them. The conversations and atmosphere will be so much more relaxed, which can turn out better if you end up needing a letter from one.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

Medicine will require you to build good relationships with both your co workers and patients. If you're struggling to do that now, may be medicine isn't for you. I was trying to say that in the nicest possible way.

 

[RedPanda55]

As mentioned above, professors are people too! Think about how you create connections with people! Do you click? Do you have anything in common? etc... I still talk to some of my professors and I graduated 3 years ago, even going back and getting lunch with them from time to time (I thankfully lived close to my college after graduating).

Even before I started thinking about medicine seriously, they were usually just people that I clicked really well with and had things in common with. All I talked about with one professor most of the time was sports! I'd literally drop by his office at random times and ask him what he thought about his favorite basketball team's game last night and we'd just get into a number of other things.

I applied for the first time this past cycle, getting letters of rec from all three of them even though it had been awhile, and was accepted into one of my top schools! Of course, all of them were also extremely happy for me when I told them and we still talk now.

Just be yourself, do well in their courses, genuinely want to get to know them, and they'll be life long friends/advocates for you.

 

[tiramisucheese]

Whether you have questions about the material or not, you need to go talk with them. Just introduce yourself to them and let them know that you're hoping to get a LOR from them for the course. This will get them thinking about you and the letter the whole semester. Then you can ask about the keys to success for the course or anything else that you deem valuable information. Then you need to go to work and get an A so that you can get the best letter possible. It doesn't matter if you have questions or not, you're going to want to visit your professor often so that they can get to know you. If you're not interested in their research, fake it til you make it because Profs love to talk about their research. It doesn't matter if they teach a huge class or a small class, they just need to see you often and they'll remember you.

Why do you want to get to know your biochem professor? If it's only to get a LOR, have the decency to tell him upfront.

"Hi Dr. ___. I'm doing pretty well in class so far, and I was hoping you could write me a great recommendation letter when the class is over. I'd like to help you get to know me better too, but I feel kind of bad taking up your time when I don't have questions right now about the class. Is there anything else we could talk about that wouldn't be wasting your time?"

OP, both of these suggestions are awful. Please don't tell your professor that you're only getting to know him in hopes of a rec letter. Be a human and create opportunities to organically know your professor as a person. But don't put all your hopes with one prof because you might not click.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

LORs should be something of a side benefit from your professors without even trying to get one. I just build my relationships naturally with my professors. Thanks to that, I have a surplus of professors and need to cut some off my list.

 

[ruieu]

OP, both of these suggestions are awful. Please don't tell your professor that you're only getting to know him in hopes of a rec letter. Be a human and create opportunities to organically know your professor as a person. But don't put all your hopes with one prof because you might not click.

I'm a bit worried about not clicking with my current biochemistry professor, as most of my conversations with him have been a bit bland. It's just hard to not be intimidated by him! I guess I need to keep in mind that the end game isn't to only win the favor of one professor. 🙁

 

[infectiousdisease101]

Well, as I mentioned in another thread, hope for the best, prepare for the worst. In other words, have a plan B.

 

[PopeKnope23]

I'm a bit worried about not clicking with my current biochemistry professor, as most of my conversations with him have been a bit bland. It's just hard to not be intimidated by him! I guess I need to keep in mind that the end game isn't to only win the favor of one professor. 🙁

I know exactly where you're coming from. I went into ochem last semester determined to get to know my prof, so I went into his office hours and introduced myself right away. He's the nicest guy ever, and not intimidating, but he's so socially awkward! Because of that, the convos we have are quite limited and when I try to talk about things other than class it doesn't go anywhere. Nonetheless, out of 110 students, he definitely knows who I am and knows I've done well in his class and that I care because of how often I visit him. Due to all that, I will defs be asking him for a letter, and I still have him again next semester! So, even if you feel your convos have been bland and you don't click, continue making that effort to be present. At some point you'll probably need real help in the class, so you can go in and he'll know you care. In the end, that's the best we can do. Good luck!

 

[PopeKnope23]

Also, I might add, it's good that you're thinking about this stuff now. Here I am, in my junior year, struggling for science letters. My non-sci ones are gonna be great because I naturally clicked with those professors. But science profs are harder to get to know because they're bigger classes and less personal, and yes, they can be intimidating or awkward (they, like, all are at my school). So keep up your mindset!! You'll find that putting in the effort is so rewarding not only bc of the letter, but bc you have an extra incentive to do well in the class and impress them bc they know your name.