How to Influence Your Professor at School?

We all have heard the adage that friendships made in school may last a lifetime. This is probably a stark truth of life. However, do you know that this principle also holds for the professors at your school?

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If you can put a lasting impression on your professor about your credibility, chances are he is going to remember you for a long time.

Doing that is not a mean task, and here we share with you some valuable ideas on how to influence your professor at the school.

Regular Engagement

Breaking the ice, in this case, has to be your responsibility, and you must not expect the professor to do so for you. Make the first move by making an introduction with him as soon as you notice that he is free enough to have a little chat.

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Proceed with this relationship building with interactions during class discussions and responsibility taking. Professors love students who are outgoing when it comes to their studies, and if you can be the ideal student, your future stay is going to be worth cherishing.

Punctuality

Being punctual in the professor’s class especially is surprisingly a sure shot way of winning some accolades. Despite many students not adhering to this principle, the truth is that those who arrive on time are considered to be somewhat diligent.

By saying this, we do not mean that you rush to be in the class much before its scheduled time. Doing that gives the wrong impression that you are actually in a hurry to impress the professor. Instead, plan your schedule such that you are there in the class well before the professor arrives.

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Choice of Seat 

This may seem to be quite an immaterial point; however, the truth is that some professors engage only with students who are sitting in the first few rows. 

That does not mean that you have to sit under your professor’s nose as that is strictly over the top. Try and pick up a seat that would keep you in his range of view. Also, from there, you should be able to participate in any discussions and talks happening actively.

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Avoiding Distractions

When the duration of your class lasts for more than 40 minutes to an hour, it is obvious that there are chances of getting distracted. Trying to figure out what the person sitting next to you is doing on his mobile may land you into trouble.

Keep your attention right where it should be so that if you are pulled up for a question, you would be able to respond correctly. Though maintaining the attention is tight, you can keep writing main points or ask questions to keep up the interest level.

Meet Them Outside Classes

It is easy to forget your professor once he leaves the classroom for the day. But those students who are serious about studies go a step ahead and clarify their queries and doubts separately. You may meet the professor in free time and discuss if there is anything you have been unable to grasp.

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Apart from the queries, you could also discuss your future growth plans and career choices with them. This works exceptionally well if you think the professor has a fair idea of the stream that you wish to go into.

Body Language

Your body language when you are talking to your professor conveys a lot in terms of your interests. Maintain steady eye contact as you discuss important matters. It shows that you are confident about what you are speaking.

Plus, the professor gets the impression that you give him the respect that he duly deserves. Fiddling here and there or spinning your key chain while talking, on the other hand, could make the professor end his conversation with obviously a wrong impression of you.

Work Completion

Even if you are attending classes regularly, it happens that you may miss out on your work. In such scenarios do not bother your professor with questions on what all you have missed.

It is your responsibility to finish that assignment that you skipped, and the sooner you submit it, the better it is going to be for you. If notes were given, make sure to copy them down and in case you have been unable to understand some concepts, then you may reach out to your professor for guidance.

Digital Communication is Key

Use the email to send your assignments and other communications to your teachers. However, before you write an email, make sure that you know everything about professional communications.

The spellings should be impeccable, and the grammar and punctuation correct. Apart from that, the salutation is another thing that you cannot compromise on.

Emails that have a Hey or Hi in the beginning and have been composed in a hurry are rarely responded to. Avoid any communication through SMS or WhatsApp until the professor has specifically asked you to use them.

Don’t Ask Irrelevant Questions

If you have nothing valuable to contribute to any class, then go with the flow. Do not make the mistake of asking any irrelevant questions just because you wish to be a part of the discussion, by doing that you are disturbing the entire class and forcing the professor to doubt your intentions.

Remember the impression that the professor form about anyone is hard to change later on. In case you have been unable to grasp something, it is better to keep quiet and discuss it with the teacher later on.

Conclusion

The relationship you share with your professors can be sweet or sour depending upon how seriously you take it. Steps mentioned above have to be practised regularly if you want to remain in the good books of your teachers for long.

Arguing and trying to show your intelligence in the class is also something you should refrain from doing in the class. If anything, a professor would dislike is a student who is argumentative and disturbs the course now and then.