Kendall G. Bryce
Sophomore in Business Management from Casper, WY

Students come to Bozeman with a few expectations about college-life in general and a few questions of how to be successful.  The transition from high school, where students know most of their peers and teachers, to College can be overwhelming.  The main key to being successful throughout college is realizing what exactly it is that professors look for.  Professors expect the following:

1. Attend Class – Professors put in a lot of time scheduling lectures and discussions.  Even if they don’t take attendance everyday, it’s a good idea to attend class because material on tests is often taken directly from discussions and notes not found in the book.  Time spent in class is much easier than the time you would spend cramming before the test looking for those answers. 

2.  Stay Awake In Class – If you showed up to class, you’re already ahead of the pack.  Don’t start snoozing now because if the professor spots you, he/she will likely call on you and embarrass you in front of that cutie you’ve been eyeing.

3.  Hand In Assignments On Time – Getting papers, projects, and regular homework handed in on time will save you big points.  Late assignments are often not accepted or at best, receive partial credit.

4.  Show Respect – This one isn’t hard to understand at all.  Professors work hard to teach and respect their students, they expect it in return. 

5.  Bribes and Compensation – OK, bribes don’t really work on any professors that I have come across, just checking if you are paying attention.

6.  Ask For Assistance – The bottom-line is that professors are here to help you learn.  They will do just about anything to help out, ranging from sitting down and explaining concepts to helping locate a tutor if needed.  All professors set aside office hours that are designated times where students can go to them for help or just to talk.

The most important thing that I have learned is that professors are normal people.  Sure, they have gone to years of school and have experienced much more than a typical student, but they are generally good people.  They do not spend each semester figuring out new ways to fail students, but rather are reforming their teaching methods to pass their information on to the largest number of students.  

The best way to understand what each individual professor is looking for is to ask.  During the first week or two of class, go to your professor’s office hours and introduce yourself.  Simply being on a first name basis will make it easier to ask for help.  Knowing your professors will also pay off down the road when you will need recommendations for graduate school or trying to land your first post-graduation job.