It is a few weeks into the semester already.  You will probably have your first test within a week or so, and I hope that you are prepared for it.  But while you are concerned about your test and doing all of your homework assignments, are you also concerned that there is a chance that at the end of the semester the professor may not have any clue who you are?  If you are not, you should be.  By the end of the semester, you should feel comfortable asking the professor for a letter of recommendation, especially if the professor taught a course pertinent to your degree.

Go See Your Professor This Week

That is your assignment for this coming week.  Go to your professors office, and have a chat.

Here are some things to talk about.

• Ask for help with the course.  Don’t wait till it is a fail or pass situation.  If you had difficulty with a problem set.  Go ask for help.
• Just introduce yourself.  When I visited my professor all I did was introduce myself.  I informed him that I was a mathematics major, and then the conversation went from there.
• Talk about previous courses and the material you enjoyed covering.
• Don’t make the whole conversation about you.  Ask about the professors current research.  Chances are you probably wont understand exactly what he or she is working on, but it still shows that you are interested.
• If you have ideas for research, share them with the professor.  Professors are always excited to help a student work on research, and sometimes they know of another professor that is working on a similar topic.

The hardest part is going for the first time.  But once you’ve visited a professors office once, the next time is even easier.  Building a relationship with your professor is essential to your future.  Professors can help you get into grad school or get a job.  Especially with the economy slowing down, having important contacts will be essential for you to get a job.