How to have good office hours?

[NP545]

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I want to know how you all have good office hours with your professor that allow him/her to get to know you better to write a good recommendation letter/establish a good student-teacher friendship.

Basically, I've tried my luck with 3 different professors this year, and don't feel like they know me any better.
I go to almost every office hour, but it's kind of awkward. Sometimes I ask questions I have about some material/problems I'm having, but they swiftly answer it and then that's about it with no further conversation. I don't really have trouble with the material and tests, so there's about nothing to discuss there.
I've read here to ask them stuff about their research and interests, and I've tried that. However, they just answer the questions and we don't really interact much. It's basically like a Q&A session which feels really awkward.
For some other professors, I end up asking really stupid questions that undermines my intelligence, so they likely think I wasn't paying attention in class even though I was.

How do I have useful office hours where the professor can sort of get to know me? i.e. how to break the ice
Whenever I go, it feels like I'm imposing on them, while they're doing other work. Sometimes no one else shows up so the professor is in his/her office reviewing their other work, preparing for next class, etc, and then when I walk in, I feel like I'm disturbing them from getting their work done.

I try to chose the professor who's office hours I attend based on my interest on the class and/or importance of the class on my grades.
How to I go about breaking the ice and stop making it super awkward? Bringing up outside topics doesn't seem to be working, talking about my few doubts in the particular class doesn't enhance the conversation, and asking about their research leads nowhere conversationally either.
I sit at/near the front of their class, participate in class when they sometimes ask questions, and do not skip.

Do you think this is a flaw on my character (that maybe suggests I'm not a naturally conversational person) or would this be due to misses on professor selection?
How have you had good office hours?

 

[SnakeOilForSale]

So, I'm the type of person who gets along with professors really well and forms friendships with them easily, maybe I can help you out.


Do not go to their office hours with the intention to talk solely to build rapport for a future LoR. They are not stupid and can smell this type of student miles away. Sure, they might write you one, but it won't be a genuine, strong letter. If you're the type of gunner who sits in the front row, raising hand about and questioning, "Is this going to be on the test?" consistently, they can see you coming from galaxies away. Try not to be that person.

It helps if you score high. That doesn't mean that you need to get an A on the exams and what have you, but they will be more likely to know who you are initially if you're one of the highest scorers. Keep in mind I go to a small school, so this may not be directly applicable to lectures with hundreds of students.

I hesitate to use the word "show," so I'm going to just say BE interested in things. Genuinely, sincerely. What would happen if you dropped an ant from the top of a tree? Would it survive due to SA-to-V ratio? Who knows, ask your professor. I'm not saying you need to come in with random ridiculous questions, but if one pops into your head, ask! They're people, they spend their lives studying a subject because they like it, they like to be playful with it as well.

Keeping rapport means keeping in contact. Don't just ask your professor for a LoR at the end of the term, never to be seen again. Go visit your old professors from previous years, keep in touch. Ask them if they know any good summer programs/opportunities. Go back and thank them for any help they might have give you in the past and they will be more likely to continue trying to help you succeed.

My last and most important piece of advice: there is no formula for this. I generally get along with professors because I like to bull****. Yes, I literally go there just to bull**** around and talk to them as if I'm waiting on a line and turn around to talk to the stranger behind me. Why not? If you want them to be on the same level as a friend, you have to treat them like your friend, and with time, they will become one. You won't need to ask for any more LoRs, they'll already have them waiting for you when the time comes. Just remember to be nice, respectful, and treat them like you would anyone else, of course.

 

[Hospitalized]

The easiest way for me has been to tell the professor I enjoy working on the material. From there, you can ask them how they used to study for this particular subject or things they were successful at in college. Permitting you aren't entirely awkward conversation will usually advance from there.

You can also ask them about previous student's they've had in the past that have been successful and what habits they used to be successful. Stem conversation to how long they've been teaching, what got them into teaching, etc etc.

 

[Nica56744]

Some professors are also just chattier than others. You'll find some that you click with and some that you don't, just like any other situation in life. By "I go to almost every office hour" do you mean that you're showing up multiple times a week? That seems to be a little excessive unless you're really struggling in a class.

This doesn't work for all professors/departments, but I would also advocate just keeping an eye open for things that they may be doing. It sounds a little creepy, but I had a professor that I liked but never really talked to who I saw was a guest speaker at an event on coping skills. I went to the event, talked with her afterwards, and ended up asking her to give a similar presentation to my sorority. We chatted a lot in the planning of that event, I took another class with her a year or so later, and she was able to write me a letter that spoke not only to my performance in her class but to my ability to plan events and involvement in outside activities. Just keep your eyes open and try to demonstrate that you're interested in their research/field without being creepy.

 

[mimelim]

Don't go to office hours for the purposes of schmoozing to get a letter of recommendation. You will end up with a weak letter. Letters of recommendation are about recommending you. Do something with a professor worth recommending. ie produce something.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/letters-of-recommendation.985472/

 

[TheLionheart]

Best way to get good letters of rec is through actually doing something. TA/preceptor for that class, and professors will likely actually get to know you, and will reward you with a much stronger letter than they would for 'office hours kid'.