I Need Help!
Today, I want to talk about something that I struggle with, as a student, and I'm sure many other students out there do, too.
Going to the professor or TA for help.
Sounds easy, right? Well, yeah, it is, but it's actually utilizing the resource you have right at your fingertips that's the issue. I've gotten better at it (it only took me 4 years to figure that out!), and you really can't go wrong.
When to go to the professor:
Questions on the syllabus
Questions about a paper/exam that you want to hear straight from the professor
* They may tell you to go to your TA, but it can't hurt
Office hours
When to go to your TA:
GRADE QUESTIONS
Pretty much anytime. They'll let you know when you should go talk to your professor.
When you should go to the professor/TA will vary from class to class depending on professor preference. If you're feeling unsure about anything that's been presented in class, even if it was presented 3 weeks ago, go talk to your TA or professor! They are there to help you! They want to see you succeed. Don't just utilize them before an exam because you're desperate for a good grade. That won't help you in the long run, and if it shows up on the final, you'll be out of luck.
The minute a concept or lecture starts to become unclear, ASK. Even in lecture, don't be afraid to raise your hand and get clarification! I know professors say this a lot but it's definitely true: If you have that question, chances are someone else in the class does, too. It can't hurt to ask. I know it can be a little intimidating, especially in large lecture classes like general education courses were there are 900 students in a room.
For those types of situations, I emailed my TA. I'm talking about when you get into major specific courses and the classes are a bit smaller. Asking questions and getting answers straight from the source will benefit you and everyone else in the class.
But how do I get in contact with my TA or professor? Email!
Email is almost always the best way to get in contact with your teaching staff. Usually they will provide office hours and locations for you to come and walk in to talk with them. I will also go up to them at the end of class, if I have time, and ask questions then. This can be a bit tricky, especially if the teaching staff has somewhere to be right after class, but it's also worth a shot.
The point is, don't be afraid to get help! If you need it, don't wait. Go to review sessions, talk to your professor, talk to your TA, study with friends, do whatever you need to do, but don't let yourself fall behind! (Professors are fond of saying that, too.)
I hope this helped! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
xoxo
Rachel
Going to the professor or TA for help.
Sounds easy, right? Well, yeah, it is, but it's actually utilizing the resource you have right at your fingertips that's the issue. I've gotten better at it (it only took me 4 years to figure that out!), and you really can't go wrong.
When to go to the professor:
Questions on the syllabus
Questions about a paper/exam that you want to hear straight from the professor
* They may tell you to go to your TA, but it can't hurt
Office hours
When to go to your TA:
GRADE QUESTIONS
Pretty much anytime. They'll let you know when you should go talk to your professor.
When you should go to the professor/TA will vary from class to class depending on professor preference. If you're feeling unsure about anything that's been presented in class, even if it was presented 3 weeks ago, go talk to your TA or professor! They are there to help you! They want to see you succeed. Don't just utilize them before an exam because you're desperate for a good grade. That won't help you in the long run, and if it shows up on the final, you'll be out of luck.
The minute a concept or lecture starts to become unclear, ASK. Even in lecture, don't be afraid to raise your hand and get clarification! I know professors say this a lot but it's definitely true: If you have that question, chances are someone else in the class does, too. It can't hurt to ask. I know it can be a little intimidating, especially in large lecture classes like general education courses were there are 900 students in a room.
For those types of situations, I emailed my TA. I'm talking about when you get into major specific courses and the classes are a bit smaller. Asking questions and getting answers straight from the source will benefit you and everyone else in the class.
But how do I get in contact with my TA or professor? Email!
Email is almost always the best way to get in contact with your teaching staff. Usually they will provide office hours and locations for you to come and walk in to talk with them. I will also go up to them at the end of class, if I have time, and ask questions then. This can be a bit tricky, especially if the teaching staff has somewhere to be right after class, but it's also worth a shot.
The point is, don't be afraid to get help! If you need it, don't wait. Go to review sessions, talk to your professor, talk to your TA, study with friends, do whatever you need to do, but don't let yourself fall behind! (Professors are fond of saying that, too.)
I hope this helped! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
xoxo
Rachel
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