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, but going the next time will be less scary.
• 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!

OEOES Workshops - The Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services (OEOES) 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 reshallacademics@ucdavis.edu. Don’t know who your peer mentor is? Find your Peer Mentor here and get in touch!

Stop by at FYE’s Finals Week Tabling to prepare for exam success!

Peer Mentors will be stationed in all residence areas, offering practical tips, free stress-busting goodies and tools to help you ace your exams.
There will be tabling available at the following times and locations:

Monday, 12/2, 4-6 PM at Cuarto RAC
Tuesday, 12/3, 10AM-12PM at Cuarto RAC
Tuesday, 12/3, 4-6 PM at Segundo Service Center Lobby
Wednesday, 12/4, 10AM-12PM at Segundo Service Center Lobby
Wednesday, 12/4, 4-6 PM at Tercero RAC
Thursday, 12/5, 10AM-12PM at Tercero Lobby 

Don’t miss this opportunity to de-stress and gear up for finals! We can’t wait to see you there.

Hope this was helpful, and good luck with the rest of the quarter. You got this!