What You Might Not Know About Your College Professors
My favorite high school teacher was my 9th grade Algebra teacher. I honestly can’t remember how many times he helped me work through my homework. I always felt like I could go to him with any problem, and he would know just what to say.
You may be experiencing some culture shock. Your college professors seems unapologetically cruel. You arrived to class the first day and to be greeted with a scowl from a person you’ve never met. This is your college professor. Great.
You know this, but your college professors are nothing like your favorite elementary school teacher. They’re intimidating to say the least. Before hastily judging your professor, consider these 5 insights into the life and duties of your college professors.
5 Insights Into Your College Professors' Lives
1. They're not your parents.
You might be relieved or frightened by this statement. Your college professor will not assist you like a compassionate parent. They don’t have the time to care for every student's need.
Your professor gets new students every semester in every course they teach. That means that they have probably at least 75+ names to learn each semester. It’s not that they don’t like you. They honestly don’t have the energy or time to invest individually in each student's life.
Think of your professor as your boss. They aren’t there to be your best friend. They’re there to provide instruction, require some assessment, and prepare you to move on to the next level. Many teachers do try to connect with their students on a more personal level, but they’re still your professors. Not your parents. Not your friends. They’re your professors.
2. They’ve seen every trick in the book.
Your professors are aware of the typical excuses. The “my dog ate my homework” situations are not amusing to the college professor. They don’t care. They don't tolerate excuses. They’re not paid to be reasonable. They’re paid to educate you, which includes enforcing deadlines.
They see through the lazy student’s excuse. Sending an email with a weak excuse the night before a paper due date will not be met with a merciful response. You’ll be lucky to get a response. Work ahead to communicate with your professors if you do have a tricky situation. Don’t wait until the night before. These kinds of frantic emails come across as procrastination.
They do not tolerate cheating. On the college level, cheating is taken much more seriously. It is viewed as stealing. Plagiarism in particular can end your college education. You can be expelled for even a short plagiarized phrase. So be careful!
3. They’re busy.
Your professors are extremely busy. They teach many different courses with many different students. A college professor will not sit around and wait for you to show up 30 minutes after you set your meeting. They’ll leave.
Don’t waste their time with questions already answered during class or included in the course syllabus! When in doubt, check the syllabus. Then check with a reliable classmate. Then, and only then, ask the teacher.
Unnecessary questions come across as lazy to the college professor. Remember, they hold your grade in their hands. You want them to like you and remember you as a hard-working student.
4. They like rebels.
Some of the greatest minds in the history of the world were considered rebels. They saw the world differently and questioned the status quo. College professors like these kinds of thinkers. They love good class discussion that adds value to the content.
Questions like, “is there going to be a test over this?” is not the way to your professor’s affections. Add value to the class discussion by sharing a related concept you’re curious about. Curiosity only kills cats, not college students.
College is not about putting in the least amount of effort. You (or your parents) pay a great deal of money for you to attend college. Your degree is a worthwhile journey. Make sure you put in the effort.
5. They want you to be successful.
They really do. They will be tough on you. They will push you beyond what you think you’re capable of doing. You will sometimes think they’re being unreasonable. But in the end, they really do want you to learn.
Most college professors would not be teaching if they wanted to do something else. They’re passionate about learning and education. They want to share that passion with you. Yes, they’re imperfect. Yes, they’re demanding. But at the end of the day they want you to be a gigantic success.
They’re nothing like that favorite elementary school teacher. They may even seem like a malicious dictator. But understanding your college professors’ responsibilities, perspectives and expectations will help you be a success. Be nice to them and work hard. After all, they want you to succeed too.
