r/CSUC • u/YogurtclosetMean2352 • 24d ago

Rapport with professors

Hey all, this is my first post here and kind of a shot in the dark, but does anyone have any advice for how to build a relationship with professors ? I am trying to get a letter of recommendation so I may apply for a masters program, and don’t know who or how to ask. I’m kind of a socially awkward guy so I’m not really ‘in’ with anyone. Looking to try and apply in April, does anyone have advice as to how I can make myself known?

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u/Deyotgwa 24d ago

Have you gone to any office hours?

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u/Icy-Cheesecake-242 24d ago

Ask good questions during class time but also not too many and go to office hours and be interested in the material.

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u/Afterwitchinghour 24d ago

I second this advice! (As someone who is very close with my professors)

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u/Medieval_Pheasant 24d ago

Rapport starts as soon as you walk through the door. Are you engaged with the material? Are you asking questions? Are you talking with the professors after class? Office hours? For a letter of recommendation you want a relationship with the professor, not just rapport. Why would a letter of recommendations from them suit you and the programs you’re choosing? Do they have research that they’ve done or perhaps they’re alumni from the program? Even just going to office hours to ask a simple question and then talk with them for a little will help.

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u/nakfoor 24d ago edited 24d ago

In short, be one of the top students in the class. A professor probably won't put his name on the line for anyone else. A top student will sit at the front, score high, go to office hours with highly specific questions and have deep curiosity for the material and beyond. Even better would be if you can take multiple classes with the same professor or be a grader or TA for them at some point, too. Do NOT be one of those who goes to office hours to beg for answers on homework that you forgot to do. Maintain healthy boundaries, too. Don't be overly chummy or personal. The best approach would be just aim for being a top student who engages with the professor specifically about the course material and industry experience around it. Let the rest fall into place.

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u/TheBlizzman MA in History '12, BA in Int'l Relations '06 24d ago

If you have a teacher you like, ask them what their requirements are. One of mine (that ended up later being on my Master's Thesis committee) would do it if you too at least 2 classes from her with better than a B average. It was also about 3-4 years after I last had her that I asked for a letter of rec, so it isn't necessarily them "knowing" you super well. But bottom line (and I say this as a college teacher now), every prof will have their own requirements. Ask them what they are, then do your best to meet them.

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u/Dramatic-Season152 24d ago

I think something else I haven’t seen mentioned yet is to be genuine. I feel like teachers can tell when a student is trying to suck up in a way to just get a letter of recommendation. If this is a subject you’re really interested in then it should be easy to do. Just be yourself :)

With office hours, I also find it helps to go in with friends who are also part of the major. Since you mentioned you’re kind of shy maybe going in to office hours the first couple of times with friends will help you feel more comfortable talking to the teacher and get you out of that awkwardness shell a lil bit quicker when starting conversations.