Tips for Getting to Know Professors

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Purdue, as you have likely discovered through visits, research, or other resources, is a large university. With over 40,000 students on campus, there are just that many more opportunities presented to students, allowing you to personalize your experience and make Purdue your customized piece of home. The professors and administrators at Purdue want to help you make your time here the best it can be, encouraging and supporting you so that you can make the difference and secure the future you want. They want to get to know you, to help and advise you while you are embarking on your journey at Purdue, but you have to take the first step into building a connection with them. These relationships that you will develop with professors are essential, as they may one day get you a scholarship, a job, or admittance to another program in the future. To help you form these ever-so-important relationships and connections with your professors when in college, here are a few tips!


First, pay attention! This may seem like a simple, “well-duh” suggestion, but it definitely helps. For example, during the first class session or throughout the semester, professors often talk about their commitments and activities outside of the classroom. I had a professor that brought up her research with waterway restoration almost daily, so I learned a lot about her passions and the details of her research by simply listening. Eventually, I took the step to approach her after class about her research in more detail. This ended up forming a relationship between us, as I now talk to her on a weekly basis just to catch up, and it all started with me paying attention to what she was saying.
Second, take the initiative. Professors do in fact want to get to know you. However, they have busy lives, filled with conferences, research projects, and families. Therefore, if you want to get to know a professor, you have to take the first step and maybe the next couple, too. As in the example in step one, I had to approach my professor about her research. She wasn’t going to come up to me to talk, as she had other things to get to. Therefore, it's important to keep your eye on the prize, so to speak. It is definitely intimidating to get up and talk to a professor, but after the conversation gets going, it becomes much easier. If you feel uncomfortable talking before or after class, professors all have office hours where you can come and talk in a more relaxed and comfortable setting. Just take the initiative and start the conversation!
Lastly, don’t forget to maintain the connection. This can be difficult at times, as college can be very busy with classes, meetings, and friends. However, remember to reconnect with your favorite professors that you formed a relationship with. This is especially important if you want to use them as a reference, as they want to have the most recent and relevant information about you to speak about. This connection doesn’t have to be a daily or weekly check-in, but once every month or so, pop into their office hours and catch up. As I said, professors really want to get to know you, so take advantage of this and keep the connections strong!
To sum it all up, make sure that you are not just another student in the crowd or class. Get to know your professors, first by listening to and then approaching them. Try not to be intimidated because part of the college experience is broadening your communication network, and forming a relationship with your professors is a great way to do this. They want to see you succeed, but they have to know you first to see this happen. Lastly, don’t forget to keep in touch at a minimum of once every month. This will make sure that the connection is strong and lasts. Then, enjoy it! Professors have a ton of advice and knowledge, and having an open source to all of that is a treat!


  • Brittany Kent, ABE 2021
WE Link Leadership Team / Recruitment Project Committee / Job Title (if applicable)

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