How do you become a TA? I've been going to school part time almost non-stop since I graduated high school in 99, but I've only taken one on-campus course in the past six years. I'm starting up full time at Purdue in the spring and am trying to look into the different opportunities available at "real" universities, but so far I haven't stumbled across anything talking about how to become a TA.... Can you guys enlighten me?
Also, I plan on applying next application cycle, which means any academic letters of recommendation are going to have to come from the professors I have in the spring. Obviously I would have to do more than just sit through lectures and perform well on exams, but I also don't want to be a kiss ass just to get a LoR. What's the best way to establish a good relationship with the professors? I was thinking about asking one or two to proofread my explanation and personal statements sometime during the first half of the semester (yes, I've already started writing them and gathering all the info for my VMCAS app), sort of to break the ice and give them an idea of who I am and where I'm coming from, and from there just touch base with them a couple of times a week with any questions I have and keep to me my face fresh in their minds. I'm not familiar with Purdue, but I am imagining huge lecture halls where it would easy for me to become another faceless figure sitting in a chair.
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