your professor? 

why participate in student activities?

I have a question for al

Your Advisor

Not me! The one assigned to you by your academic program. You don't remember "What's her face?" Well, she doesn't remember you either. Bad news! So what's she going to say about you in a letter of recommendation?

Nothing good, I'll bet . . . Oh, she won't say anything bad about you, it's just that she won't be able to say anything good about you either. You'll be "damned by faint praise," as they said in the good old days. Anybody who gets a letter from your advisor will go, "Ho Hum." Then they'll look at the next letter and forget you. Bummer.

See your advisor at least once a semester--even if she growls at you--and talk about something besides registration. This is not sucking up! DO NOT brown-nose! You don't have to tell her how great she is, just tell her where you're at so she can write a decent letter for you. That's her job, and she can't do it without good information. So she's no peach--neither are you.

[top] [let me out of here!]

Your Professor

Ditto! For Heaven's sake! you are here not for "just good grades." Anyone can get good grades! You want great recommendations! Find a professor you respect--not some nice guy (they often write lousy references)--take several courses from him . . . Visit her during office hours and talk about class topics. Do this for several semesters. By the time you graduate you may have a professional friend. That's the best kind of reference you can get. Remember to return the favor. A thank you note from your first job will do.

[top ] [let me out of here!]

What not to say to your prof.

The following kinds of comments really impress professors! They demonstrate how much you want to learn, and how eager you are to work hard.

Yeah. Right.

+ "I missed class the other day. Did you cover anything important?" (So, you think I worked for all these years just to get into class and say nothing?)

+ "I'll do anything for a grade." ("It" might take your offer, or report it. Anyway, "it" knows what your price is.)

+ "This course really isn't important--it's not in my major!" (And, of course, you really have the background to decide what is and is not important in your education.)

+ "You didn't say that! It's not in my notes!" (That was in the class you missed. Or, more likely, your notes are incomplete.)

+ "You're a(n) @#$%&!" (I may be--but I determine your grade.)

+ "Do I have to buy the book?" (Huh? Not really, you'll only be tested on the information contained in it.)

+ "Hi! I'm a student in your class. When's the test?" (Which class are you in? The intro course? Which one?)

+ "What are you going ask on the test?" (If I tell you, it won't be a test, will it?)

+ "Why don't you just tell us the important stuff? Just the high points!" (In other words, you want to know what the test questions are, and what the answers are. You aren't concerned about the subject at all. Hmm.)

[top] [ let me out of here!]

Student activities

This stuff won't get me a job!

This is a tough one to convince anyone about. Why should you waste your time with mickey-mouse activities like student government, plays, choir, band, the debate team, community service organizations, and so forth? After all, those activities won't have anything to do with your job when you get out of here. Better to watch t.v., or drink, or fool around.

Well, don't bet on that! You will lose!

First of all, exhibiting leadership in a situation where individuals have many different agendas is something that job recruiters want to see and should be found in your recommendations.

Second, without other interests you will become a drudge who won't continue to have ideas to contribute to your organization, your energy level will decrease, and you will become Beetle Bailey or Dagwood Bumstead.

Third, you want a life! Your whole life and self-identity will be taken up by work if you don't do this. Do you want to give your whole life over to "the man?" I guarantee you that the corporation in which you work or your competitors will not care for you. They will fire you or put you out of business in a heartbeat if it is profitable to do so. If they don't care about you, who will?

The basic idea here is this: don't put all your emotional eggs in one basket.

[top] [let me out of here! ]