How to Impress Your Professor: Tips from a College Professor

Have you ever wondered why your college professor never remembers your name? It could be the professor's work load, but more often than not, many students fail to leave a positive lasting impression on their professor simply by forgetting to follow some of the basic ways to impress any professor. Even the most academically aloof professors will at least take notice of the students who attempt to make an impression, in a positive way. A good impression can have long reaching effects on a student's academic career. Professors who get to know a student better are more likely to provide references or letters of recommendation in the future. Students who show initiative in class will leave their professors with a sense that they are motivated and interested in the course. Students who follow some of the 10 ways to impress their college professor will have a head start on a positive and successful academic career.

1. Attend Class

Class attendance is often the key to getting good grades, but it can also be a way to show your professor that you are interested in the course and take your academic work seriously. Even in larger classes, professors tend to notice students who are always in class. When professors have a mandatory attendance policy, it is even more important to attend regularly, since missed classes will most likely count against students' final marks. Smaller classes are the ideal place to make your presence known, and choosing a seat closer to the front or sides of the classroom will give your professor a better view to see that you are attending each class.

2. Participate

Many professors include a participation requirement as part of students' grades. Participation is a must for students who want to impress their professors, and voluntary participation will go even further in creating a lasting positive impression. Participation in class discussions shows your professor that you are prepared and interested in the course content.

3. Arrive Prepared and Look Interested

Students who arrive to class prepared with the class essentials are more likely to present a positive image to their professors. If a class requires the text book for in-class exercises, be sure to bring it each class. Don't forget to add extra pens, pencils, and paper to your backpack. Students who take notes and show non-verbal signs of paying attention to the professor are more likely to be noticed. Listening attentively during lectures is one way to impress your professor. From a professor's vantage point, there are many non-verbal signals that students display, which can show how engaged they are in the learning process.

4. Raise Your Hand and Ask Questions

One way to impress your professor is to ask relevant and interesting questions during class discussions. Preparing ahead of time is key to discovering questions, which are related to the course. Students who jot down a few notes and questions while reading class material before class will have questions and interesting points to share during class. Avoid asking questions which are already answered in the reading material for class, and let your own academic curiosity create questions that take the course material to a higher level. Most professors will take note of your efforts.

5. Turn in Assignments on Time

Students who pay careful attention to the class syllabus and due dates for assignments will fare far better than those who wait until the last minute to complete assignments. Class assignments should be turned in on time. Most students do tend to turn in assignements on the due date, and professors often notice those who have a pattern of turning in late assignements. This is not the negative attention that students need if they want to impress their professors. Students who complete all class assignments and turn them in on time will make a more positive impression on their professors.

6. Utilize Office Hours

Visiting your professor during their designated office hours can be a great way to introduce yourself on a first and last name basis. Many professors have large classes, and it is easy for students to get lost in the class roster. Students who make at least one visit to their professor's office during the semester are more likely to be noticed. Questions about the course or material are good topics for an office visit, as well as questions related to class standing. Make the visit brief and set up an individual appointment if your visit will take longer.

7. Do Quality Work

Professors always remember the students who turn in quality work. In any class, student work will be compared to the quality of work of their classmates. One way to stand out among your peers is to put extra effort into papers, making sure to correct any typos or misspellings, as well as grammar errors. Consider writing a draft before turning in papers, and remember to edit. Students who study for quizzes and tests ahead of time tend to benefit from higher exam grades. When students have a pattern of earning high grades on papers or tests, professors often take notice.

8. Provide Specific Positive Feedback

Another way to show your professor you are interested in the course is to provide feedback to your professor. Positive feedback about a specific class lecture you found especially interesting, or a class learning activity that was helpful, are just a couple of ways to provide your professor with a student's perspective. Many professors appreciate student feedback, and use it to tailor future class agendas.

9. Present Yourself in a Professional Manner

If you want your professors to take you seriously as a student, you need to present yourself in a professional manner. Addressing professors by the correct academic title is essential. Following class rules and protocol is another way to show respect for your professors. Students who wander into class dressed in pajama pants with an ipod in hand are less likely to be taken seriously by professors. Casual dress is often the typical attire for college students, but looking sloppy or disheveled in class will present a poor image to most professors. If you have to present in front of the class, consider dressing up a little more.

10. Tell the Truth about Absences or Personal Issues

Most college students have at least one time in their college careers when life seems to throw some unexpected curve balls. Sometimes, personal or life issues can interfere with class attendance or performance. The best thing to do is to be honest with your professors and notify them ahead of time for any personal emergencies or issues. Professors do not need to know all the personal details, but students who are honest and upfront about any current difficulties or reasons for an absence will impress professors more than those who resort to generic excuses for absences or late work.