Even with the coolest professors, there is a code of conduct you should not mess with. Aside from the obvious, “don’t sleep with your teacher,” there are certain things to never say to the person who dedicates their life to a particular subject. Chances are what cute hairstyles are to you; microbiology is to your professor. That being said, here are a few things you should never say to your professor, or may the odds be ever in your favor, because you’ll be fighting an uphill battle.
“Did I miss anything important?” or “Did we do anything important in class?”
You might as well shoot yourself in the foot now. Even if not everything seems important to you, this teacher has dedicated his or her life to this subject, so everything is important. This is something we all say or think at some point, but think of it this way: “Did I miss anything important at your wedding last night?” No. Just no. Class is the teacher’s show, and you are paying to watch it.
Suggestions: Instead, say, “I wasn’t able to make it to class last time. Would you be willing to meet during your office hours to discuss what I may have missed?” or even better, “Hey Jane, I missed class. Can I see your notes?” Friends in class are great for studying and keeping up with missed classes. Remember, be tactful, you don’t want to burn bridges.
“I didn’t know anything was due in your class.”
Ladies, we are in college. We hold down jobs, keep up relationships, and go to school all at the same time. Your professor has a family, a research project, and a ton of papers to grade. Saying you didn’t know anything was due is like saying you don’t know what day the class meets or you’re not sure what the professor’s name is.
Suggestion: If you miss an assignment and want to try to make it up, talk to your professor. Let your instructor know if there was a lot going on and ask to make it up for half credit. Check the syllabus for the late work policy, and pray it’s lenient. If you’re having trouble keeping organized, get a planner or use your calendar app. Mac calendars sync across multiple platforms so keep on top of it. Feeling stressed? Head over to the counseling center for some help. Remember the old Zen adage, “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes every day – unless you’re busy; then you should sit for an hour.”
“I had work for other classes…”
All I can say is tough. Never tell a professor another class is more important. Really, it’s the same thing as saying that they aren’t important enough to get to during the week. Think before you speak, it’ll keep your feet on the ground and not in your mouth.
Suggestion: If you have 12 projects due in one day or in the same week, talk to your professors to work something out. Teachers aren’t around to make your life difficult. They want you to succeed as much as you do, so talk to them. Many teachers will give you the option to turn something in a day late if you explain your situation. Open communication goes a long way.
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