Scared to talk to your professor? That’s okay, a lot of students feel that way at first. Keep reading to bust common myths and fears about talking to faculty, and learn how to make the best out of office hours!

What are office hours and why should I go?

Office hours are blocks of time that faculty set out to answer student questions about course materials, but it’s not limited to just class-related questions. Your professor is a great resource to go to for questions about future careers, research opportunities, and more!

Letters of Recommendation

If you ever want to apply for scholarships, programs, or graduate school, you will likely need a letter of recommendation from a faculty member. Office hours are a perfect opportunity to get to know your professor on a more personal level that’s simply not possible in a class of 500+ students.

Research

Are you interested in getting into undergraduate research? As an R1 Research University, a lot of UCD professors are involved in research outside of the classroom, and some are looking for undergraduates to help out in their lab. While you can always reach out via email, talking to faculty about their research during office hours is a more direct approach.

Academic Assistance

Stuck on how to study for an exam? During office hours, your professor can give you helpful guidance on how to best study for exams and clarify any misconceptions about class material. After all, they are the ones writing your exams!
I’m still scared, what should I do?
The thought of talking to faculty can be intimidating for a lot of students, so we have some tips to help:

Remember that starting is the hardest part: taking the first step to go to your first office hours is the hardest part. But once you actually take the first step, going the next time will be less scary!

Professors are humans too

Professors are humans with lives outside of the classroom, just like yourself! Ask about their specialty or their research interests in their field of study, about their career, or what they are passionate about!

Resources

Undergraduate Research Center (URC) - advisors can help you narrow down your research interests, find relevant opportunities, and learn how to be successful in reaching out to professors doing research. Make an appointment with them here!

Success Coaching and Learning Strategies (SCLS) has several workshops focused on helping students develop their studying and time management skills, as well as communicating with professors. Check out some of their workshops here!

Your Peer Mentor and First Year Experience

 
Join us for a First Year Experience program—snacks are on us! Look for flyers around the residence hall areas or ask your Peer Mentor for information on upcoming programs.

Need more help? Reach out to your peer mentor or email firstyear@ucdavis.edu. Don’t know who your peer mentor is? Find your Peer Mentor here and get in touch!