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If you’re not in the best place with your professor, that’s a problem. Maybe your relationship started off on the wrong foot. Maybe you didn’t quite see eye to eye. Maybe your professor is rude. Here’s some steps you can take to improve your relationship with your professor.
Assess what has caused the issue in the relationship between you and your professor. Was it a miscommunication? Was it a misunderstanding? Was it something you need to own up to? Is it something the professor needs to apologize for? You want to identify what the issue was. The point is not to assign blame, but get to the root of the problem.
Let’s assume the root cause was something your professor said or did. This could be a situation where you need to be the bigger person. Extending the olive branch and saying, “I think we started off on the wrong foot.” is the move. Your professor could be completely in the wrong, but you're not trying to be right. You’re trying to manage a relationship in your favor.
Schedule time with your professor. This doesn't have to be a long meeting. The goal here is to establish (or re-establish) yourself as someone who cares about their academics and is focused on their success in the class. Think of the professor as a partner and how you can maximize them as a resource. The best way is getting feedback on your last assignment - a test, paper, quiz, project, discussion board post, etc. Start with the questions you got wrong or any terms or concepts you don’t understand. Get the inside scoop on what’s coming next or where students struggle most on the next chapter or test. It’s worth a shot! Make it clear you care and want to get better.
After you wrap up the meeting, send a thank you email. I know professors are required to provide office hours, but you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar (right?). Thank them for their time. Aim for consistent communication with your professor. Get feedback on all your assignments, and implement it. The more you can replicate that cycle of feedback, the better.
This one moment won’t completely repair the relationship, but it could be the beginning of establishing a line of healthy communication. Don’t burn bridges, especially with your professors. You never know when they will be in a position to help you. Your professors are often the people you’ll lean on for reference letters, internships, scholarships, and even jobs. Regardless of how you feel about your professor, learn to maximize and leverage the relationship. That’s networking. When an opportunity comes up, you should be the first person they think about.
Comment below with more tips for connecting with professors.
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