Making the Most of Office Hours

Engineers solve problems.  It’s what we do.   Let me show you how it’s done.  Imagine if you will that you are a first semester freshman at a really large university and you’ve decided to study one of the hardest curriculums around.  Let’s say “engineering” for example.  You are in the first week of class and suddenly you realize that this isn’t high school anymore.  You can’t study and do homework like you did at Home Sweet High.  You need to up your game.  Don’t fret fair freshman, this engineer will tell you the surest way to academic accolades.  Two easy words—Office Hours.  It is to engineering undergrads what the shield is to Captain America. 

So let’s get started.  What can you expect from office hours?  What should you bring and have done beforehand?  What are you really getting out of it? 

Types of office hours:

Not all office hours are created equal, and they tend to run differently for each professor.  However, there are a couple main types, and there are different strategies to make the most out of each one.  I’d recommend going to all of your professors’ office hours if you can during the first few weeks of school to at least see what they are like. 

One on one:

I think this is what people typically think of when they hear “office hours.”  You come in with your specific question about the homework or lecture and meet with your professor one on one or with a classmate you were working with to talk about it.  This tends to be very efficient and really focuses on your own questions.  If the class is very difficult or homework is due, there often may be a line, but waiting on the help is worth your time.  View the line as an opportunity to connect with others in your classes that are serious students.  These people are ideal study group material.

Round Table:

These office hours usually involve around 3-20 students with a professor and/or TA.  Everyone has a chance to ask questions and listen to everyone else’s questions.  There’s usually a wide gap in homework completion- some students have their homework almost completely done and have a few, very specific questions, while others haven’t started or have no clue where to start and have very general questions.  I find it best to do as much of the homework as you can or at least be as familiar with the problems as you can before these office hours—professors generally appreciate the effort.  I also suggest that even when you run out of questions, consider sticking around and listening to other questions if you have time—that’s often just as helpful. 

Lecture Style:

Just like a normal lecture, the professor spends the majority of the time talking and working on the board.  However, office hours tend to be more example focused- whether it’s homework problems or mock exam questions- and it includes more audience participation.  Professors are typically more willing to answer questions both during and after the examples as well. 

Homework Help:

This type of office hours are my personal favorite.  TA’s often have this style of office hours, but sometimes professors do too.  Typically, students come in to get homework done, and spend the office hours working with peers to solve the homework, like a study group.  TA’s/professors are there to answer questions as students get stuck.  I often found that the best learning happens here.  A lot of large intro classes like Chem 110 and Physics 211 have a mandatory class component similar to this type of office hours called recitations that involves small group work with TA guidance. 

So why go to office hours?

Now that you know what office hours are like, what’s the point of going to them?  Well, the obvious benefit is learning something about the course and improving your chances of doing homework assignments correctly.  But there are some hidden benefits too.  It’s a great way to find dedicated, eager to learn students like you that you might have missed in a crowded lecture hall.  Many a study group was born from students who met in office hours.  It’s also a good way to get to know professors, which could help with getting letters of recommendation or getting involved in research later on. Remember, you are paying to attend this university-office hours are a service that you have purchased.  Use it for all it is worth. 

Other Quick tips

-Do your homework with the expectation that you will go to office hours.  For me, this means doing homework with a stack of post-its beside me.  As I get stuck on a problem or have a question, I place a post-it where my problem was, and write a short note to remind myself what my issue was when I get to office hours.

- Check with your textbook or talk with friends before bringing a question to office hours.  It is fine to have questions, but office hours shouldn’t be a substitute for careful reading of your notes and the textbook. You are expected to do due diligence.

- Office hours can be a great time to get to know professors and classmates better.  But make sure you get some work done too!

-When in doubt, go to office hours!  Most engineering courses build on previous material, so clearing that little bit of confusion in Chapter 1 can save you a major headache in Chapter 10. 

So to reiterate, what do you do if you have a question on a lecture topic, get stuck on a homework problem, are looking to stay on top of your academics or want to work with other talented people in your class?  Office hours is the answer to all of the above.  Engineers are problem solvers, and you’ve already solved one.  Pretty good for someone who hasn’t been to class yet. 

Kathleen Lauser is a senior in Chemical Engineering, and she is a Mentor for WEPO '14!