To ask your questions! If there is a reading that is giving you trouble or if you are looking for additional ways to engage with course materials, attending office hours is a great opportunity to have your questions answered in full, get study tips, and explore your areas of academic interest. Asking questions during Office Hours can be especially helpful if you are in a large, lecture based course – as you can receive one-on-one attention or have your questions answered in-depth.

To get to know your professor! If you discover that your professor or TA has similar academic interests or comes from your home state or country, you can utilize offices to build relationships and make connections. Getting to know your professor through Office Hours can also make your professor feel less intimidating.

To gain insight on other courses! While it is likely that your professor is not your advisor, your professor likely knows a good deal about the academic area of your class. Reach out to your professor to gain perspective on other courses to take (or courses to avoid!) based on your interests and academic goals.

To learn about post-graduate opportunities! You can attend Office Hours to ask for course recommendations from your professor or TA as well as gain insight on what to study post-grad if you are really enjoying coursework! Attending Office Hours, especially with your TA, can be especially helpful if you are thinking about applying for graduate school programs in your major or a similar field.

To give feedback and share your perspective! Is class going well? Was there material that was helpful or harmful? Did you love a particular activity that was done in class? Let your professor know during their Office Hours! Office Hours can be a great space to share your feedback on how the class is going, which can be helpful for your professor as well, so they get feedback before the usual course review period at the end of the semester.

Expect to give a brief intro! If this is your first time at Office Hours, prepare a little spiel about yourself to get more acquainted with your professor or TA. Nothing major, just something like – “Hi Professor X! My name is Emily and I’m a senior in your 11:40 Tuesday/Thursday section of Intro to Psych.” Some professors, especially professors or larger lecture classes, have over 200 students who are enrolled in their classes, so a quick refresher will be helpful for them.

Expect to come with a question (or a few)! Questions can range from simple and introductory, such as “What sparked your interest in the field?” or more specific questions about course materials such as, “I really struggled with this week’s p-set. Would it be possible for me to walk you through my thought process for question 3 to see where I might be going wrong?” Your professor or TA will likely expect you to take the lead when it comes to their Office Hours, so come in with a strong sense of what you would like to gain from the meeting. And if you have a few things to discuss, don’t hesitate to attend/schedule Office Hours again – it is more than okay to do so!

Expect to take some notes! You’ll likely get some great insights, so be sure to be ready to make note of what you learn. Notes from office hours could be helpful in shaping your approach to the course material or shaping the action items that you would like to complete.