The Do's and Don'ts of Office Hours During Finals

Although this blog is strictly about visiting office hours during finals, you should take advantage of your professors' office hours on a regular basis. It's important to build relationships with your professors in order to get professional advice, potential research opportunities, and a strong letter of recommendation.

The Do's

1. Arrive with a specific question to work on:

• Make sure you are visiting office hours with a few questions to ask your professors. Do not just go to office hours to show you are present. Professors want you to ask for help rather than to struggle in silence.

• Show them that you have made an honest attempt to tackle the problem and how you approached it. This will let the professor know that you are trying your best and are willing to put in the time to get the answer, rather than just hoping for the best.

2. Ask them to look at your work:

• If you are writing a paper for your final, ask for help with developing a strong thesis. Show them your main arguments to see if you are hitting all the main points. Do not ask them to write the paper, simply ask for some feedback.

3. Ask questions about the final:

• If you are worried about the length of the test, how many questions, what you should focus on, most of those questions are given during office hours. Many professors provide additional insight as to what will be on the test during office hours, not during a lecture.

• Professors tend to reward those who visit office hours before finals by offering additional information on the final. So don’t miss out!

4. Be mindful of their time:

• Professors are extremely busy individuals that allocate their time wisely in order to help as many students as they can. With that being said, if you schedule a meeting to see a professor, do show up.

• Not showing up to a scheduled visit can hurt your chance of establishing a good relationship with them.

The Don’ts

1. Don’t ask questions that you can easily find the answer to:

• Make sure that the question you are about to ask your professor is not already listed on the syllabus or online. Make sure you review any final instructions given to you by your professor.

2. Do not ask your professor to research any of your sources or to help check your grammar on your essay:

• A professor expects you to utilize on-campus resources such as the library and writing centers. There is no harm in asking if they can review your paper or ask if you're on the right track. Just make sure you have put in the effort first.

3. Do not ask your professor to bump your grades during finals week:

This is especially true if the first time you are visiting office hours is to raise your grade. The answer will be most likely no.