Things professors love

We talked about what professors hate, but what do they love to see from students? You might not know as a first generation or low income college student, so here's some things that melt professors' academic-loving heartstrings:

• Visiting professors during office hours.

I am a HUGE fan of steering students to office hours. Remember, it was one of the ways you can start the academic year of right. It's also one way to take some initiative and be proactive about your own education, which brings me to our next professor love...

• Asking for help more than a day before a test or an assignment due date.

Professors love students that recognize they might need some help or additional support, and ask for it! This is the adult way to show that you are taking responsibility for your own education.

• Reading the assigned readings and actively participating in class discussions.

Professors love a well-prepared student who is engaged in any discussions. It shows that you care about the class and are interested in the content. You can only fully participate in class by being prepared, and that means preparing yourself before class.

• Asking good questions during class.

This is yet another way you can show your professors that you are engaged in class and that you are thinking about the material. But, it is a fine balance between asking good questions and annoying your professors by asking too many or irrelevant questions. If you have a lot of good questions, office hours might be a better place than class if you've got more than, say, 5 questions or so.

With this list, you are sure to make a good impression on your professors. More importantly, you are sure to set yourself up to do well in class!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.