Help your professor see you!

At Texas A&M International University, we have a diverse faculty. There are some professors that may be funny; who always have a straight face. But, regardless of how funny your professors may be, they could always spot a good student.

We all are familiar with lecture halls, and how easy is to be lost among the hundreds of students. Help your professor out by becoming your own spotlight and point it in your direction. Always try to ask questions. Kindly force your professor to look at you. Now, this does not mean that the class should be all about you. Do not play it too hard. One of the things that should help is to sit in the front of the room. Also, try to make the time to introduce yourself to the professor. They really like that.

According to Wendy Chacon, junior at TAMIU, "It is important to make the time to meet with professors. This way your professor will know who you are and might pay more attention to you in class. Now your professor has met you in person and you are no longer just a number, he or she will be inclined to look your way."

Another way to help your professor notice you is by raising your hand. Answering questions or just making an intelligent comment is a phenomenal way to prove to your professor that you have a great interest in the class. Please avoid texting, Facebook, and eChat during class.  

            According to Dr. Agustin Martinez-Samos, professor of assistant professor of Spanish recommends the following, "Ask a question during lecture, in a direct and mature manner. Avoid those introductory clichés such as 'this might be a really stupid question, but' and get right to the point. Also, do not laugh after making a comment. It gives you more credibility."

There is this really cool program at the University of Virginia where the university pays for you to take your professor out to lunch, it sounds like an amazing idea and definitely a great way to get to know your professor.

Above all, I think you must remember that you want to catch your professor's eye in a positive way. This means that you must be on time, study, and complete all of your work.  Chances are that if you don't, your professor will first encounter your name on a 'not so good' list.