If you are planning in getting into a graduate program, it is best to get to know a few of your professors really well so that they have an idea of who you are and what goals you have for yourself. In many instances, I have found that not only can these professors provide letters of recommendation, they have also provided extra information about my field that is not taught in the classroom. For instance, one of my speech pathology professors gave out her home phone number and let me know that even when I graduate from graduate school and am out working, I can always call her for any questions. It is not only special, but it is important to have support that can further your success.

Kristen Harris University of Tennessee

    Be sure to check ratemyprofessors.com when signing up for your classes. One of the best professors I've had said to my class "don't sign up for classes, sign up for professors. Because a great professor can teach you the phone book and make it interesting." Of course, there are certain limitations to this- for example, if there is only one professor who teaches one of my science requirements, I have to take him/her. But when it comes down to choosing electives or classes in which more than one professor is available, I heavily take into consideration the opinions of past students, whether its advice from an older friend or from the anonymous students who take the time to "rate their professors." (take the ratings in the site with a grain of salt though, because some of the ratings come from students who are bitter from getting a bad grade in the class). Logically speaking, an arrogant/ mean professor can turn even your favorite subject into a nightmare. So do your research before signing up for classes!

Paola Annoni Biology Georgetown University

Academic Success – Will Your Professor Help Out?

“To determine how successful your actions might be, consider how your efforts will serve to improve the lives of others.”
P. Cannon Rasmussen

The descriptors in this model are intended to depict examples of college professor and instructor behaviors that establish successful results in students. These examples a guide for reflection and further conversation amongst peers in the realm of education. Universities, colleges, and college students must determine expectations that support the established standards and criteria set by these institutions and students goals for success.

The first descriptor deals with the professor’s ability to enhance academic performance and support implementation of the student’s achievement goals. To do this open two-way communication about those goals must be present. The professor must be willing to support the student by implementing strategies, using data, and accepting mutual responsibility in creating a cultural learning experience focused on success.

The universities serve to ensure that professors demonstrate competence in content knowledge appropriate to their educational area, but students must continuously evaluate if information is viable. This brings us to descriptor two, the professor’s role understanding the content knowledge and making the learning experiences meaningful and accessible for every student. The professor must relate ideas and information within and across content areas, while still remembering the focus of students – success.

The first two descriptors deal with the planning and execution of the professor’s ability to plan and prepare for instruction using a variety of deliver methods that meet multiple learning needs of students – not an easy task. The professor will monitor student learning and success, but the student is paying for the experience. The students must evaluate that they are getting what the need to be successful.

Last, the professor must keep developing their area of expertise. Career development, research, professional growth, and active participation in their area outside of the university solidify “Real World” information. Be selective, be reflective, and understand that they need to know you before they can help you become successful.

Robert Williams Adjunct Instructor - Buena Vista University Master of Educational Leadership Viterbo University

    It's intimidating to approach professors, but contrary to popular belief, they are human too. Really! I take Psychology classes taught by some of the most well-known names in their fields, and there is nothing stopping me from walking up to them at the end of class and asking if they would like a research assistant. The second semester of my freshman year, I did just this, and landed an RA position in a sleep lab, with no previous experience and hardly any learning to back me up. It was all persistence. This summer, I landed another RA position in a communications lab, again with nothing to back me up except for the meager experience I had gained in the sleep lab and my enthusiasm for their research. Most excitingly of all, I dared to approach a famous guest lecturer in my Social Psychology class, one whose theory claims its own chapter in the textbooks we use, and his immediate and friendly reply was to offer me a research position with him next semester. The moral of the story is: no matter how little experience you have, if you really want to work with a professor, keep hounding him/her with your enthusiasm, and I guarantee you will have research opportunities flying your way. Professors are real people, and usually they're not scary at all.

Qi (Jade) Wu Cornell University

    Whenever my old guidance counselors and teachers from high school tried to prepare me and my fellow students for college, they always said get to know the professors, go to their office hours, and they will take that into account in their grading. Two full successful years into college, I have yet to attend any professor's office hours other than one time to pick up a graded assignment. I go to a very large school where I am either in a large introductory class with several hundred students, or I'm in a pretty small class with around 20 or 30 students. In the big classes, the professors don't do the grading anyway; there are specific T.A.'s, or graders, that do that, and we students usually never got to meet them, see them in class, or even learn their names. In addition, these big classes are often graded in such a standardized, methodical way that any objectivity the professor may have in the case of a specific student will not have any bearing on the final grade. In the small classes, I simply actively participated and remained attentive, and the professor knew me anyway. Forgive me if I quickly found the early advice to go to office hours and get to know the professors meaningless. I am not saying that this tool is entirely useless. If you need assistance in learning the material, by all means, go to office hours and put in the extra work you need to. Or if you are genuinely interested in the class or the professor's work, you certainly should talk to him and pick his mind for your own intellectual benefit. However, do not be fooled into thinking that getting to know the professors will automatically help your grade. Professors do not care that you can demonstrate your superiority to other students by talking to them like a professional in the field. They simply want you to demonstrate that ability in class, on assignments, and most importantly, on tests. So focus on the class, put in the effort, and do not waste time with roundabout ways to help your grade.

Alexander Latzka

Cornell University

Office hours can be some of your best spent time in college. Professors are always eager to meet with students during office hours. It's a great way to form a relationship with your professor, which is always a good thing, especially when you need recommendations for med-school. Even if you have one silly question that's bothering you, don't be afraid to send your professor an email. Professors have a great deal of information to offer, not only about their teaching subject but about life and experiences in general. Definitely take advantage of your professors' time outside of class.

Angela Condo

Georgetown University

Unbeknownst to many college students, getting to know your professors doesn’t require being that kid who made a point of going up after class to gush about how fascinating he found the lecture on cognitive dissonance. You can make the most of your faculty resources by doing something as simple as asking a question- and you never know where it could lead you.

During the spring of my junior year at Cornell, I was starting to explore different fields of psychology in more depth and trying to narrow down what part of it I wanted to focus on. I took a class in developmental psychology, which I absolutely loved from the very start. The first exam was a little rocky for me, so I sent a quick email to my professor, Michael Goldstein, when I realized I had questions about some of the new material. He responded within hours, and he not only answered my questions but also suggested I come by for a chat about my plans for graduate school in the future.

The meeting came at a perfect time. I was had decided that I wanted to take a year off before graduate school, because I had not yet decided whether I wanted to pursue clinical, developmental, or social psychology. I had heard that taking a year off after graduation increases chances of acceptance into a graduate program, and I also wanted more time to research programs so that I knew I was choosing the right one. Most people from in Psychology at Cornell went straight into graduate school, so our Career Services took a relatively lackadaisical approach to a gap year. The brochure even called it “Plan B.” I had no idea how best to use my gap year to serve my ultimate educational and career goals.

Fortunately, Professor Goldstein knew the graduate school process inside and out, and knew every option in the field of psychology. He told me about a past student of his who did the Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). IRTA is a post baccalaureate fellowship training program for those who plan to pursue graduate study. I didn’t know that the NIH had programs other than their Biomedical and Genetic research programs, but Professor Goldstein pulled up the online application on his office computer and showed me how I could apply to one of the branches of the NIH specific to my interests. After suggesting some names of researchers and universities with programs that fit my interests, he told me about a few other possibilities for the gap year and later followed up with an email with the links to websites he had showed me during our meeting.

When senior year rolled around I went to the NIH website, completed the application, set up my letters of recommendation and contacted the labs that peaked my interest. The website warned that only 10% of applicants were selected each year, so I was thrilled when I got an interview and even more so when I found out that I was one of those chosen. I am working this year as a post baccalaureate fellow in the Prevention Research Branch, a part of the NICHD (National Institutes of Child health and Human Development) segment of the NIH. I plan to apply to doctoral programs this fall.

Besides the great people in the lab, the fascinating research, and the break from academia, the IRTA program may turn out to be the best decision I ever made for my chances at acceptance into a PhD program: A friend of mine recently told me she had heard my psychopathology professor call NIH-funded research the “golden key” to graduate school admission. When I finally get my graduate school admissions decisions next spring, Professor Goldstein will be one of the first people to know; his guidance helped me to find the best possible route to achieving my goals.

Caitlin Duffy

Cornell University

    Having a great relationship with your professors can lead to success in many ways other than the expected. Soon after I graduated with my accounting degree, I began job hunting. I worked as an intern in college, and so decided to send my resume to various accounting firms in my area in the hopes someone would contact me for an interview.

    On my list of references I included my advisor and major professors. I had a special relationship with my advisor. I had taken numerous classes with her and participated in extra curricular organizations for accounting majors. I had often times asked her advice on my career choices and greatly respected her opinion. She also had an equal opinion of my abilities as a student and accountant.

    By a stroke of luck, the owner of one of the accounting firms I sent my resume to was an alumnus of my university and had had the same advisor as me. He called my advisor to inquire about me and received a glowing recommendation. As a result, I was called for an interview and shortly after offered a job with his firm. The owner had not even been looking for a new employee, but was so impressed by the recommendation from our mutual advisor that he felt he could not pass up the opportunity to hire me. In this way my relationship with my advisor helped me even after graduation.

Jennifer Marie Hanson

North Georgia College and State University

Professors

If more than one professor teaches a required class, some research may be required regarding that professor’s background and worldview. Professors with opposing worldviews can be excellent, if the professors have ethics and present all viewpoints without trying to bend students’ minds to their way of thinking. A truly great professor will not reveal their own bias, but this is extremely rare. Ask other students about their experiences. University professors are occasionally more interested in their own research than teaching. I worked as a teaching assistant for these professors. They are often extremely arrogant and have very negative views of their students. In my opinion, they are a disgrace to their profession. A little kindness, sincerity, and inspiration will go a long way in creating a productive learning environment. Often professors at community colleges are better teachers because they are not obsessed with their own egos and research projects. If you are a student on a budget and need to work your way through college like I did, you may want to consider taking all of your general education requirements at a community college. Make sure all your credits will transfer to your chosen university. Also, do not be afraid to ask questions. Seek professors with an open-door policy or regular office hours. Regrettably, members of academia may be filled with bitter jealousies and incredibly mean-spirited childish behaviors that they express toward each other. This abhorrent behavior may trickle down to effect their students. If you are able, seek professors who are experts in their field and have a passion for teaching. A great professor makes all the difference in the world.

Marcia Joyce Henning

Masters, Natural Resource Management

New Mexico Highlands University

Make yourself known to your professors. In some classes there may be over 200 people in the class. It is important that the professor knows you are in the class to learn the material. Go to their office hours, ask questions when you need, and show up for class on time. Remember when it comes time for grades, your class participation will be in the professors mind, and you may need a recommendation someday.

I have received over $3,000.00 a year from teacher recommended scholarships from my excellent class participation. I would have not received anything if my teachers had not known who I was.

Rachel Salim

Western Michigan University

    One of the best things a college student can do to significantly improve his or her college experience and performance is attending professors' office hours regularly. These are opportunities that many of my fellow students often neglect to take full advantage of.

    Speaking from my own college experiences, nothing has helped me more to earn desirable course grades and learn more about my discipline of study than making room in my schedule for attending office hours. Talking and learning from professors in a small office environment allows for much more personal interaction than what is found in large hall lectures. The benefits of attending office hours are plentiful. First and foremost, many professors do care greatly about their students' learning individual experiences and will certainly help answer any questions students have about the course material. This is frequently more useful than reading the textbook, although it helps to review the information in the text beforehand in order to ask better questions.

    Additionally, professors usually give very good hints on which parts of the material will be emphasized on a test, which greatly allows students to fine-tune their studying strategies. I have personally found that attending office hours before an exam is much more informational and time-efficient than attending the traditional review sessions held in lecture halls -- the close and personal advice received during office hours help me target the topics and concept areas that I need to focus the most on in order to do well on the exam.

    Finally, it is never a bad idea to become good friends with professors. They can help students in many significant ways, and the first step to forming such academic friendships is encountering professors during office hours. A good relationship with professors often leads to helpful recommendation letters, rewarding research opportunities, and of course, leads to similar relationships with other professors in related fields. But most importantly, professors often give students very poignant advice on how best to pursue future studies in specific academic disciplines, and also commonly aid students in planning what to do in the years following undergraduate study, whether a student chooses to enter industry or stay in academia.

    Because of all these reasons, I strongly urge all college students to not be shy, and instead confidently approach their professors and reach out for the advice and friendship of such wonderful and experienced scholars.

Sean Chen

Cornell University

Thoughts On RateMyProfessor.com

    Everybody does it. It's perfectly natural to be curious. There's no shame in giving in to the temptation. What I'm talking about is, of course, choosing a professor based on ratemyprofessor.com.

    It's an interesting concept, this site is. When you think about it logically, students are supposed to be grateful for the wisdom their professors are willing to take the time to impart to them. It's not like picking a phone service, where companies have to attract buyers with flashy deals and offers. Professors do undergraduates a favor by teaching them; why should they be expected to cater to the desires of spoiled students? On the other side of the coin, students are paying a hefty sum for their education, and asking a rude or flaky or monotonous professor to act a bit more sociable isn't an unreasonable demand. Professors do benefit from having to take a step back and explain concepts to beginners.

    So you can see that this can be a touchy subject. However, a student's interest in ratemyprofessor tends to not go as deep as the quandary I just posed; it tends to stick to "Will this guy give me an A?" I'm sure we've all heard before that you can't believe everything you hear, especially on the internet. If you haven't heard this, it may already be too late and your credit card information has already reached Nigeria. But I digress. Students who rate professors online are usually the most disgruntled or the most enthusiastic (read: those who got the A). And if you subscribe to the theory of "math," you will know something about statistics and bell curves and that for every professor, there will be at least a few students who love her or hate her. Most tend to fall somewhere in the middle, or "indifferent," meaning the professor is probably like most of us human beings and has his high points and his flaws. If you don't believe math, believe me: after my first semester, I decided to contribute back to the site that had helped me so much. But I just couldn't muster up enough of that certain something (I think it's called "interest," or, alternately, "getting off Facebook") to give a review.

    I hadn't minded my professors, but I hadn't met anyone particularly horrible or enthralling. There were better ones and worse ones, but all pretty decent people and educators. The apathetic, middle-of-the-road kids like me just don't contribute to the comments, so most of what you get is angry rants by the slacker kids who are shocked at how sleeping through class only got them a C- (or B+ for all you people passionate about the horrors of grade inflation).

    Now, this is not always true, since many professors have great reviews, but if you get the highest-rated Economics professor for your Micro class, that does not by any stretch assure you an A, as the reviews made it sound (I mean it...) I encourage apathetic students (those not blinded by hate or love) to do exactly what I am NOT doing and rank some professors, just for some balance. That being said, ratemyprofessor is a decent tool of last resort.

    If you are just entering college and do not know any students currently there, and are too embarrassed to harass the kids who gave you their emails out of courtesy at the Open House you went to, use ratemyprofessor and pick some good ones. After you've gotten to know some people (I hope...), a better tool is asking people who've taken the class. Direct contact gives a less passionate, more realistic insight, and chances are, you are talking to one of those elusive, "middle of the bell curve" people since they ARE, after all, in the majority. Also, listen to the gossip and watch the body language. If you say you're signing up for Professor A's section of Biology and everyone in the room winces, reconsider. If people can't stop talking about how amazing Professor B's lectures are, look into that. Finally, it goes without saying that actually meeting the professor can tell you more than anything, but it's kind of awkward unless you have a legit reason. Or are good at coming up with legit-sounding reasons. In that case, more power to you. Ratemyprofessor tries to recreate this sort of signaling, but it is often a poor substitute for the real deal.

    My final say would be, "Use the site, but get backup in the form of live opinions and, if possible, first-hand experiences."

    Attending a professor's office hours is a great chance to get to know him/her and receive some one-on-one help. Most professors that I have talked to said they rarely meet many students during their office hours, and they wish they got more. Getting to know your professor will also greatly help when you need a letter of recommendation from him/her. In my experience, teachers hesitate writing recommendations for students they're not acquainted with. And one-on-one help with your teacher can be a great chance to get some homework or exam questions answered.

    While getting to know your professors is great advice, I think it's equally important to be aware of the professors you don't have for class. When it comes to class selection, usually the only difference in any two classes is the time the class meets and the professor who is teaching. While all professors are learned and didn't become teachers via accidental means, the reality is that some professors are better than others, some professors care more about students than others, and some professors are just much harder than others. Asking classmates who had the specific teacher is the best means of evaluating an unknown professor. Try and get a large sampling of opinions and be aware of those few who hold unique views or biases towards him/her. Your goal is to know what you're getting into, even if he/she is the only professor to teach the class. And if you need additional references, check out some web sites dedicated to rating professors' performances. These aren't as reliable as personal interviews, but they may give some direction about the unknown professor.

Jeffrey Gibson Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of West Florida

Talk to your professor...

Your professors are there to help you. If you run into a snag or are unsure about an assignment, contact the professor. Don't wait until the next class when his or her time is taken up teaching that day's lesson. Of course you can wait after class if you have time and he does as well. If the prof gives you a home or cell number don't hesitate to use if you have to...that is why they gave it to you. But the preferred method is to schedule a visit during office hours. Do NOT hesitate to do this. It won't make you look bad, it will show that your really want to learn. Wear out that hallway to his office if you have to.

Cathy Hooper

Master of Arts in Educational Leadership

Texas A&M University

    Professors can be a valuable commodity to have for any student who wishes to attain the most from his or her educational experience. Being given the right advice from a professor can help shape the direction that a student takes while in school. Professors can play symbiotic roles of mentoring and academic advising. It is important to be relatively clear about your objectives as a student and the direction that you want to take at the advanced level of study. I have had several truly knowledgeable professors in my masters studies that have helped mold me and direct me "down the right path" so to speak, concerning coursework and future career planning. Professors can also act as great references for job applications, once you attain your degree and are looking for employment. My advice for current and future students is to get to know the academic staff in your particular program and develop academic relationships with your professors so that you can achieve the most from your educational experience.

Jonathan Todd Wigle

East Tennessee State University

It is inevitable that you will, once in a while, find yourself with a professor you specifically tried to avoid getting during registration. In fact, this is not only inevitable, but it is to be expected.

Being a good little scholar, upon being assigned to such a professor, you feel the urge to prepare yourself with lots and lots of research. This particular professor was known for only wanting to hear her own opinion out of her students.

Wanting to start college off on the right foot- meaning an A, of course, I set out to do just that. I took careful notes and wrote impeccably regurgitated essays. I ran my theses by her before writing a paper, trying to be sneaky about my grade grubbing. I saw plenty of evidence that my methods were working- I was getting excellent grades on my essays while more argumentative students tried to attack the professor's views and got the glares of disapproval.

The final for the class, however, was conducted in a "group discussion" style, where each person was assigned a few minutes to speak about what we had learned and what conclusions we drew, and then a few minutes to take questions form the group. This did not allow for the crutch of "the right answer" that I had always gone with- rephrasing the professor's opinion. No, this time, I had to think for myself. I stumbled through it a bit, but eventually came out alive.

It should have been easier than it had been for me. I had undoubtedly learned a lot, but was not confident enough to name something intelligent that I had learned. I was comparing all my ideas to what the professor would have wanted me to get out of the class, as if there was just one absolute "truth" that we should have picked up. After fumbling through my little speech and listening to the rest of the presentations, the class was over and students began filing out of the room. As I was leaving, the professor pulled me aside and asked to speak to me.

She then told me that while she found me very intelligent, she thought that I was limiting myself by worrying so much about my grade in the class, which caused me to focus too much on trying to find what the professor wants to hear from me. In other words, I had been found out.

Professors are smart like that. In the end, I got the A, but I could have gotten more out of the class had I been willing to take more risks and think for myself. Most professors- because there probably are those chosen few who are simply out to get you- have high enough self-esteem that they can handle dissenting opinions from their freshman students. It's OK to think for yourself, and it's even OK to be wrong once in a while. Being wrong will not destroy your GPA; if you were never wrong, you would be wasting time taking that class in the first place. But that is how you learn, and how you separate yourself from the rest of the crowd- your independent thinking and academic risk-taking.

Isabella Maria Janusz International Relations Georgetown University

GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS!!! This is a huge benefit at any level of education. I remember in undergrad years my sociology class included about 200-300 people. I made it a point to get a close seat upfront the first day of class and raised my hand and contributed to the discussion whenever possible. Sooner than later, my professor came to recognize me by face and soon even learned my name out of 300 people! I ended up making a high score in the class. Years later, the same professor recognized me and called me by name after running into each other at church. Getting to know your professors is important...and besides you will more than likely be guaranteed a great letter of recommendation!

Tia Roberts

Marriage & Family Therapy

Mercer University School of Medicine

The best way to get to know a professor is to visit him or her during office hours. Often times I will visit a professor before the semester begins in order to introduce myself and ask for a course syllabus. When you visit a professor during office hours, it also shows him or her that you are motivated and this is what professors look for in students.

You’ve probably heard of the site: www.ratemyprofessors.com. This is where students can rate professors and their opinions are posted. I would recommend that you do not avoid a professor just because he or she has bad ratings. My best advice is to take a class with a professor despite what others have said about him or her. You may find that the professor’s style of teaching best suits your needs or you may find that you are doing well in the course due to the fact that the material presented is one of your strengths. As an undergraduate student, I was required to take a psychology course and it was taught by the same professor every semester. I had heard and read mixed opinions about the professor and was hesitant to take the course. I decided to sign up for the course and told myself that I could withdraw at any time during the first couple of weeks of the semester. I made the decision to remain enrolled in the course after attending the first day of class. The professor came across as one who had the students’ best interests in mind and told us that he would do everything in his capacity to help us succeed. At the end of the semester, I received an A for my final grade. I have asked this professor for recommendation letters over the years and could not have made a better decision but to take the course taught by him. I hope that this experience which I have shared will encourage you to make your own decisions despite what others have said.

    Academic mastery is perhaps the highest level of enlightenment that one may seek in any content area. To reach this level of mastery, though, a student must often learn from a master. Part of what has contributed to my level of academic achievement has not been of my own doing, but that of others, that is, the masters in my life. Although I have a great deal of self-efficacy when it comes to my own learning, I have also learned how important it is to seek out help and support when I need it. This is part of being an excellent student, knowing where and who to seek when I don't know something. It is not always easy to admit that one needs help, but I firmly believe that reaching out for this help and accepting it when it is offered is critical to academic success. There are many wonderful teachers in our lives at any level and it is certainly not without their help that we are able to succeed. As good students, we need to know when to ask for help and not be afraid to accept it when it is given to us. This leads us to learn from the masters.

Kristin L. Jones PhD., Educational Administration Ohio University

    Never underestimate the power of building relationships between your professor and yourself. Introducing yourself to your professor early in the semester lets him/her know that you are dedicated to doing your best in the class. Ask questions when you aren't sure if you understand lectures or assignments. Turn assignments in early to get feedback from your professor before it's due. A lot of times this will be the only formative feedback you will get in college. All of these suggestions will also help form a good reputation. Professors will recognize you for your willingness to do whatever it takes to make good grades. The result? Good solid relationships with individuals who know you inside and out. This type of relationship is vital to networking and possible future references!

Jennifer Busby Ridgway

Masters, Educational Leadership

Kennesaw State University

    Anyone who has attended college knows how important having a good advisor is to your success. However, as students we are not always blessed to have advisors that are concerned about their advisees. This was the case for me when I entered graduate school. My advisor was very nice, but she was also very wrapped up in her current work and had very little time to advise me. I became friends with another professor in my department and he became my mentor and unofficial advisor. For anyone who is not fortunate enough to get a really great advisor, I strongly recommend befriending another professor in your department and seeking their advice and counsel concerning you college career. Without my mentor I probably would have taken unnecessary classes, wasted tuition money, and would not be graduating on time. Fortunately, he has given me sound advice and I will graduate on schedule with a Master's Degree in Special Education.

Kathryn Wood Almond

Master of Education in Special Education

University of North Carolina

    In terms of establishing rapport with one’s professors, no single act can be more effective than reading them. A lot of folks suggest that you go to office hours in order to: 1) enhance understanding 2) develop personal relationships and 3) set up sources for future letters of recommendation. All true. Now imagine, in addition, that you actually familiarize yourself with the professor’s work. The benefits increase by an order of magnitude. I cannot emphasize enough how effective this technique is; and it’s especially impressive if you’re an undergrad. It never fails to amaze me how most of my fellow graduate students begin seminars without even the pretense of having read the professor. The simple act of skimming professors’ publications before the beginning of a course lets you know immediately where they’re coming from, and what you can expect. NOW go to office hours. While you pose your own questions, discuss their work. Consider how gratifying it is when someone takes an interest in your own research, when someone appears genuinely impressed with your originality. Show your professors that you appreciate their lifelong commitment to their field. NOW you’ve established a relationship-- because relationships by definition involve reciprocity. And it is not merely a question of brown-nosing. Reading your professors’ writings indicates that you have respect for their efforts over the course of decades. It also allows you to assess their strengths and weaknesses--particularly in the Humanities, where argumentation is the norm. Authentic scholarship is not at all about parroting the views of your instructors. History’s best thinkers invariably defy received wisdom. Read your professors and see if you can do that. But don’t be too brutal!

Keith David Sherman

Master of Arts in International Relations

Northern Arizona University