10 Topics You Can Talk About During Office Hours
When I first started college, I avoided office hours most of the time as a first-year student. I was not necessarily scared to talk with professors, but I was rather avoidant of the potential awkwardness of complete silence in a conversation. I love talking with people, but I found that it is hard to converse with professors who you may only see once or twice a week. This situation is a lot different compared to high school where you saw your teachers everyday, which made it easier to speak with them. While I can’t teach you how to become a better conversationalist, I want to share my list of 10 simple topics you can talk about with professors during office hours.
Please keep in mind that professors and faculty members are hired for YOU, so make sure to reserve some time during your week to chat with them — even if it's just for fifteen minutes. I know it can be intimidating to network and have academic conversations, especially if you are a first generation student like me, so consider checking out the many resource centers at UCI that are available to help you gain skills in professionalism. A lot of us first-gen students were not able to have access to training and advice on career building as a high school student, but now is a great time to learn from the amazing professors and faculty at UCI.
Class materials and assignments
The most obvious answer is to talk about the lectures and class assignments. You can start the conversation by asking them to elaborate on a particular section of the lecture, and following through with questions about the topic that you want to learn more about. You should always prepare for the meeting with questions because you don’t want to waste your time as well as the professor’s.
Feedback on the class
One important reflection I’ve come to notice is that professors often appreciate feedback! If you have questions about how the syllabus is organized, how the discussions are facilitated, or whether you did or did not enjoy a particular assigned reading or film, let them know and explain why you. Rate My Professors is an unreliable platform that shares biased opinions about professors, so giving direct feedback about the class helps the professors improve the class so it will best suit future students and the learning styles of today. Professors are usually willing to work with you and make any changes that best fit the needs of students in the class.
What you’re up to on and off campus
The funny thing I realized about a lot of professors is that many don’t know much about what’s happening on campus. It’s not that they don’t want to know, they’re just super busy! Many of the professors I’ve had in the previous quarters really enjoy learning about what I’m up to on campus. Are you a Dance, Film, or Art major? Show them your work and invite them to your performance/exhibit/showing! Are you presenting your research or paper at a symposium? Invite them to your presentation or ask to present it to them directly for feedback! Do you volunteer or participate in an internship? Let them know what type of work you’re interested in.
A campus event that you went to
Because many professors are busy, they often can't attend many of the amazing on-campus or virtual events, workshops or seminars that happen all year long. If you recently attended an event that you enjoyed, share a little bit about why you liked it and what you learned. For example, I recently attended a virtual reading by Native American poet and writer Joy Harjo, which was hosted by the UCI Humanities Center. The reading was extremely powerful and enlightening, and I knew that I needed to share my academic advisor, who is the Director of the center, so she has some feedback from a student. This encourages the organizers to continue their efforts to plan events that are beneficial to the students.
A independent research project you want to pursue
One of the greatest advantages of attending a research institution like UC Irvine is that professors encourage you to participate in independent research. Consider applying to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, and ask your professor to be your advisor. You’ll receive funding for your project, and you get to present your research at a symposium. Applications are usually due in November of fall quarter or in May of spring quarter, so keep in mind the deadlines ahead of time.
Learn about their research background
If you’re shy or not the best at starting conversations, the easiest way to learn about your professors is to ask them about their research and professional background. This way the conversation is focused on them rather than on you. For example, in the Film and Media Studies department, there are many professors who are experts in screenwriting, documentary studies, media and internet history, and video game storytelling. Because professors conduct a variety of really interesting research, I won’t be able to learn more about their academic background and career history unless I ask them directly outside of class. They always appreciate students’ curiosity about their work because most of the time, students won’t ask. If you are interested in conducting research like them, they can potentially be your academic mentor if you are considering attending graduate school.
Ask about internships or fellowships that they know
If you are interested in finding research opportunities or fellowships, ask your professors if they are able to help you find one. If the internship is unpaid, they can oftentimes help you find funding via grants and scholarships. Professors are constantly working on their own research projects and they often receive funding to have a research assistant on their team. Continue to express your interest in their research so if an opportunity does arise to be a research assistant, you may have an opportunity to work with them.
If they can connect you with other people
On the topic of finding opportunities, if a professor can’t support you in regards to a particular industry or topic that you’re interested in, they should be able to connect you with someone else in a different department, university, local organization, or outside academia and higher education. For example, I have an interest in Japanese American history and the professors in the Asian American Studies department at UCI are not currently working on any research within the topic, so my academic advisor was able to connect me with some professors at Cal State Fullerton who are working on research within Japanese American studies. Professors are active in the community and are always willing to connect you with other professors or professionals.
Talk about current events in the world, and how it affects the field of study
If you’re not struggling with any class assignments or do not have any difficulty with assigned readings, you can talk to them about what’s going on in the world and how it is making an impact on the field of study or your personal interests. The pandemic has created new social issues while also exposing existing ones. Every industry was impacted in some way, both positively and negatively, so if there’s a topic you want more information on, do some research on it and bring some questions to your professor. For example, as a Film and Media Studies major, I was interested in learning more about how the pandemic has changed how film and television is consumed by audiences. After attending office hours, I’ve come to understand that while movie theaters will still exist in the future from the support of cinephiles, streaming platforms are making content accessible to a wider audience.
Piece of media your enjoyed
Have you recently read an article, listened to a podcast, watched a documentary or even a SNL skit that you really enjoyed? Bring it to your professor’s attention! How does the piece of media challenge your critical thinking skills? Does it discuss any important issues within the field of study that you found fascinating? You don’t necessarily have to go to office hours to share your thoughts about it, but it’s a great way to engage with your professor via email if you’re still hesitant to attend office hours in-person or via Zoom.
—
A crucial reminder to know for the future is that many job and internship applications require you to include references of people who can advocate for you (unfortunately you can’t ask your parents). If your professor knows who you are and what you are up to as a student, they can support you and recommend to employers and program advisors your abilities to solve problems and to think critically. Being engaged in class materials and discussions is the first step in exhibiting your commitment to learning and to gaining knowledge and skills.
Make sure to check out the Division of Careers Pathways for assistance in navigating other aspects of college such as building a portfolio, curating a resume and cover letter for internships, or gaining skills in acing that job interview that’s coming up. Good luck! You got this!
