Tips for getting to know professors in large lectures?

[V781]

I'm a junior. I'm very aware that I need strong relationships with a few professors and soon. However, all of my classes currently have 300-400 students. This will be the case for the remainder of my classes this year (molec. bio, cell bio, physio 2, physics, etc)...Office hours for these classes are one short hour per week, and there are usually up to 10 students present at a time. I do make a point to come up with creative questions to show that I am thinking about the material. One professor did comment that I should be a neuroscientist in response to one of my questions (she is the PI for a neuro lab...), however the professor doesn't know my name and I'm sure doesn't bother remembering names what with the number of students I've seen introducing themselves... I constantly feel I am fighting for her attention. I would like to work in her lab or ask to become a TA, because I am great with this subject. However I am certain she is constantly being asked for these positions and that she is most likely giving these positions to her graduate students...

I've transferred from a community college with small class sizes and professors that are in it for the students. These professors at the University make it clear that they are too busy for undergraduates. I see I need to make adjustments. Tips? What worked for you?

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[V781]

Nothing? 🙁

 

[Shunsui]

+1 here ... same situation. Bump this


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[EpilepticRat]

Office hours are by far the easiest way to get your professor to know you in a large lecture-based class

 

[deleted966164]

Ok. I'll chime in. The largest lecture I have ever taught was 200+ students. Here are the things that would make me remember a student:

- DO WELL ON EXAMS!!! (I cannot stress this more)
Scoring high places you in a small subset of students and increases your chances of me knowing who you are immensely
- Come to office hours, show interest in the class and material, ask questions that are thoughtful and make me think or look something up for you.
- Show maturity. I don't know what it is exactly but some students give out a vibe of being "young adults" rather than a "college kid"
- Sit somewhere in the front, where I can see you. Generally, I kind of don't know what is happening in rows 3+, so somewhere in front of me would be fine
- Don't come in day one and introduce yourself after class. Many people do so and I don't remember them 30 seconds later.

I can clarify if needed.

Also, I think what we are precisely discussing here is not "How to get to know your professor" but rather "How to make your professor get to know you"...

 

[theKingLT]

Set the curve on all the exams then show up to office hours to ask questions related to the material but not "show me how to do this practice problem from start to finish"

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[V781]

Ok. I'll chime in. The largest lecture I have ever taught was 200+ students. Here are the things that would make me remember a student:

- DO WELL ON EXAMS!!! (I cannot stress this more)
Scoring high places you in a small subset of students and increases your chances of me knowing who you are immensely
- Come to office hours, show interest in the class and material, ask questions that are thoughtful and make me think or look something up for you.
- Show maturity. I don't know what it is exactly but some students give out a vibe of being "young adults" rather than a "college kid"
- Sit somewhere in the front, where I can see you. Generally, I kind of don't know what is happening in rows 3+, so somewhere in front of me would be fine
- Don't come in day one and introduce yourself after class. Many people do so and I don't remember them 30 seconds later.

I can clarify if needed.

Also, I think what we are precisely discussing here is not "How to get to know your professor" but rather "How to make your professor get to know you"...

Thanks for this. I have been doing all of this so hopefully something comes of it soon. I suppose I'll ask about a position with them toward the end and risk the likely rejection...

 

[and 99 others]

One of my profs who ended up writing me several letters of recommendation noticed me because I smiled a lot during class. It was over 100 students in the room and one day I went to ask a question after class and before I even could, she asked me why I smile so much. I don't recall what I said but it was a good in for her remembering me, even if it probably gave the impression that I derived just a little too much satisfaction from organic chemistry.

 

[V781]

One of my profs who ended up writing me several letters of recommendation noticed me because I smiled a lot during class. It was over 100 students in the room and one day I went to ask a question after class and before I even could, she asked me why I smile so much. I don't recall what I said but it was a good in for her remembering me, even if it probably gave the impression that I derived just a little too much satisfaction from organic chemistry.

Haha well that's something I could probably work on...

 

[deleted966164]

Haha well that's something I could probably work on...

I'd actually strongly advise not to do that. This sounds awkward. Yes, it worked for @and 99 others but I can easily see it backfiring.

 

[and 99 others]

I'd actually strongly advise not to do that. This sounds awkward. Yes, it worked for @and 99 others but I can easily see it backfiring.

Honestly, I agree with you lol

I have resting smile face. But I don't doubt it's probably weird.

 

[kfcchikin]

I'd talk to them after class (briefly) and go to office hours. Even if you're good at the subject, find something however small to ask. And definitely do well. After I started talking to a large lecture hall prof, at office hours he would ask me what I got on his tests lol

 

[V781]

I'd actually strongly advise not to do that. This sounds awkward. Yes, it worked for @and 99 others but I can easily see it backfiring.

No, I was just saying I don't smile enough 😆

I'd talk to them after class (briefly) and go to office hours. Even if you're good at the subject, find something however small to ask. And definitely do well. After I started talking to a large lecture hall prof, at office hours he would ask me what I got on his tests lol

"You seem like a good student. Well, what did you get on my test?"
"30%....."

Haha. I'm having fun imagining the reaction to that.

 

[jurisburger]

Another tip: Look for advanced science classes that meet in seminar format. That's the best natural way to do it.

 

[imbesrs]

Office hrs, take their seminar, join their lab, think of some questions from lecture even if you dont have any then email and ask them if they have time to meet, talk to them after lecture briefly, sit in a visible seat near middle front (not front row you look like a tryhard), participate in lecture if they ask a question, dont look super distracted during lecture, do well in the class

 

[JoaoMoutinho]

In addition to all of the above, trying to get in as a TA for a professor is a fantastic way to build a relationship with them while simultaneously strengthening the letter they write you.

One of my letter writers noticed me asking questions during a large gen chem class (he told me down the road he thought I was being an a-hole until he realized that I was genuinely curious about the material), and at one point in his office hours he recommended that I take a small lab class that he taught because it would answer a lot of the questions I had been asking. After taking the lab class he offered me a job as a TA even though I only got a B+, and I was a TA for him 3 times. He ended up offering to write me a letter without my having to ask, and we still are in contact even several years after I graduated– I occasionally send him memes or papers that he would find interesting.

I obviously don't know what his letter said, but given our 5 semesters' worth of relationship (working very closely for 4 of them), I have no doubt that it made a solid positive nudge on my application.

 

[V781]

In addition to all of the above, trying to get in as a TA for a professor is a fantastic way to build a relationship with them while simultaneously strengthening the letter they write you.

One of my letter writers noticed me asking questions during a large gen chem class (he told me down the road he thought I was being an a-hole until he realized that I was genuinely curious about the material), and at one point in his office hours he recommended that I take a small lab class that he taught because it would answer a lot of the questions I had been asking. After taking the lab class he offered me a job as a TA even though I only got a B+, and I was a TA for him 3 times. He ended up offering to write me a letter without my having to ask, and we still are in contact even several years after I graduated– I occasionally send him memes or papers that he would find interesting.

I obviously don't know what his letter said, but given our 5 semesters' worth of relationship (working very closely for 4 of them), I have no doubt that it made a solid positive nudge on my application.

You know, in a previous quarter, I've been told (by a ...well probably not a friend..) that I came across as an a-hole in class the way that I kept asking difficult questions that the professor couldn't answer. She said it came across as though I was trying to make the professor look bad. This wasn't the case at all. It hadn't occurred to me that asking questions could also leave a bad impression....

Anyways, literally the day after all of these comments here, a smaller group of students and I were chatting and joking with this professor. She said she had a fun time and actually didn't ask us to leave once the hour ended. Felt like I was joking with a friend. I suppose persistence is key.