5 surprising things that will get you noticed by your professor

So, you are hoping to get a good word from your professor later or just wanting to earn some recognition from your professor, and you want to know how you can do this.

Or maybe you are wanting to impress your professor to show them your abilities.

Either way, you found yourself here to get some tips that will work to get you noticed by your professor.

See, I am a professor.

And I know what makes students stand out amongst the crowd.

I’ve had thousands of students over the years, and I remember a few dozen that really shine.

Otherwise, it can be really hard to remember students that I had little conversation with.

Be that student that shines.

Why try to get noticed by your professor?

Because it can help you later.

The professor may have an opportunity for you later (internships or jobs) and be asked to provide several recommendations.

If you are at the top of the list, they can reach out to you.

Sometimes professors are contacted by companies requesting exceptional students and you could be one of them.

If they don’t know much about you, or weren’t impressed with your academic abilities, you may not get them to write you a letter.

Also, by doing these things, you are really expanding your knowledge and improving your college career.

This list isn’t just provided to pad your stats, but to really help you make the most out of your college career.

And you never know when your professor can ‘open a door’ for you.

Now, here are my 5 best tips to get noticed by your professor.

1.) Ask them about their research

This entirely depends on your college because most tenure-track professors will be writing research, going to conferences, publishing textbooks or giving professional presentations.

While professors at community colleges (2-year colleges) or non-tenure track professors. will likely have a heavy teaching load instead.

But either way, look at their curriculum vitae.

See what they have done recently.

• Do they have any research interests?

• Any research presentations?

• Did they just publish a new article?

• Or did they author a book?

If you are interested in that subject, read it. And go talk to them.

You’ll get them engaged in a conversation.

And build a professional rapport.

Plus, you’ll learn a lot of information that could help you in your future career.

If you can’t find their curriculum vitae, you can always search their name on Google and see if you happen to find any professional results. If they are a published author, it’s likely some work will appear in the search results.

This is sure to help you start a conversation with your professor if you are anxious to visit them during office hours.

2.) Write them a thank you note

Now, this doesn’t have to be anything too special.

It can be a handwritten note on paper, a stock thank you card, or on stationary.

You are just getting your thoughts down on some paper, so don’t worry about anything too fancy.

Tell them what you are thankful for and what you most appreciated about their teaching or course.

This can go a long way.

I am serious.

It’s such a simple gesture too.

Anyone in the teaching field is going to get very few of these thank you notes over the years. And when you give your professor one, they’ll feel appreciated.

I display every thank you card or note I ever received on my office wall.

And even though some are over 10 years old, I still read them occasionally.

It can be really motivating for a professor to know someone is listening and appreciates their experience.

So, get that pen and paper ready and write from the heart.

3.) Attend an event they’re hosting

I don’t mean attend a personal event, but an academic event on campus.

If you are interested in the same discipline as your professor, find out what committees they are on and what events are planned.

You can always ask them too.

Then attend an event.

Make sure you find your professor at the event and say a quick hello.

Or tell them afterward what you loved about the event.

Remember, you aren’t attending your professor’s event to just make an appearance, but rather because you are truly interested in gaining knowledge and excelling.

4.) Join their student organization

Are they an advisor of a student organization?

If so, join if it fits your interest.

This won’t always be the case, but some professors are advisors of student organizations.

And this would be a great way to have more professional interactions with your professor.

The more outside interactions the professor has with you, the more information they’ll have to write a letter of recommendation or serve as a reference for you later.

PRO TIP : Nominate yourself for an officer position. This will give you the opportunity to get more involved in the student organization.

5.) Be confident

This might seem a little strange, but it can be a big factor in getting noticed.

Let me give you some examples of how you can show confidence.

• Ask analytical questions. Go beyond the surface and really think deeper about the topic and pose a question for your professor. You can do this in an email.

• When you’re in class and doing a group activity, be a leader. Organize the group, delegate tasks, and be professional. This shows your leadership skills.

• Feel confident enough to introduce yourself to your professor the first week of class. All you need to do is shake their hand, tell them your name, and explain what your career or academic interests are to get the conversation started.

• Sit on the front row. When students sit on the back row, it may be harder to engage in class discussions or be noticed by your professor. So, sit up close, and participate in discussions.

Key Takeaways 

After reading these 5 surprising things, I know you will get noticed by your professor and stand out.

It may come in handy later.

Oftentimes, students need professors to write letters of recommendations, be a reference, or help them find careers or recommend internships, and this can help make that possible.

And finally, by doing these 5 things, you’re going to make your college career more memorable and meaningful.

You’ve got this.

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