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Approaching / Maintaining Network with Former Professors

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:17 am
by random5483
During my first semester I occasionally (like once each) went to professor office hours. I volunteered in class semi-frequently. For the professors I still have this semester, I plan on being more active in class and going in to office hours often. However, two of my professors from last semester no longer instruct me.

How should I go about maintaing a relationship/network with former professors? I considered contacting them regarding a review of my first semester exams once our exams are returned, but I received As in both classes so I don't think that would work. How would the rest of you approach the professors?


I don't plan to use either professor as a reference or for a letter of recommendation. But I don't want to lose contacts with the professors either since they might be helpful in the future. I tend to have no problem networking with fellow students at school, or even with attorneys I have met since law school. However, I am not really sure how to approach former professors who do not know me outside of class. Any advice would be appreciated!

Re: Approaching / Maintaining Network with Former Professors

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:24 am
by Fark-o-vision
You can still get a review of "A" grades, especially in classes that are largely based on a single exam. Just present it sort of as, you understand you did well and you appreciate that, and you you know you have the skills to continue to do well, but you'd like to understand a little better how you did well.

Re: Approaching / Maintaining Network with Former Professors

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:28 am
by megaTTTron
Fark-o-vision wrote:You can still get a review of "A" grades, especially in classes that are largely based on a single exam. Just present it sort of as, you understand you did well and you appreciate that, and you you know you have the skills to continue to do well, but you'd like to understand a little better how you did well how you could do even better.
I did this in all my classes. Profs are so used to dealing with kids whining about grades, most will be more than happy to talk you through it, give you little comments on wrinkles (the things they find most interesting). Talk about your future, ask for advice, ask about their backgrounds. Show an interest, and likely it will be reciprocal. Good call on being proactive about this, it'll pay off.

Re: Approaching / Maintaining Network with Former Professors

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:31 am
by keg411
megaTTTron wrote:
Fark-o-vision wrote:You can still get a review of "A" grades, especially in classes that are largely based on a single exam. Just present it sort of as, you understand you did well and you appreciate that, and you you know you have the skills to continue to do well, but you'd like to understand a little better how you did well how you could do even better.
I did this in all my classes. Profs are so used to dealing with kids whining about grades, most will be more than happy to talk you through it, give you little comments on wrinkles (the things they find most interesting). Talk about your future, ask for advice, ask about their backgrounds. Show an interest, and likely it will be reciprocal. Good call on being proactive about this, it'll pay off.
Not the OP, but it sounds like a really good idea :).

Re: Approaching / Maintaining Network with Former Professors

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:34 am
by random5483
megaTTTron wrote:
Fark-o-vision wrote:You can still get a review of "A" grades, especially in classes that are largely based on a single exam. Just present it sort of as, you understand you did well and you appreciate that, and you you know you have the skills to continue to do well, but you'd like to understand a little better how you did well how you could do even better.
I did this in all my classes. Profs are so used to dealing with kids whining about grades, most will be more than happy to talk you through it, give you little comments on wrinkles (the things they find most interesting). Talk about your future, ask for advice, ask about their backgrounds. Show an interest, and likely it will be reciprocal. Good call on being proactive about this, it'll pay off.

Both your points sound good. I do not want the professors to think I am talking to them just to show my grades.

megaTTTron, I will definitely do what you said and ask them about their backgrounds. I am one of the few 1Ls in my school who is still undecided on what kind of law I want to practice so this piece of advice should be doubly helpful.


Thanks.

Re: Approaching / Maintaining Network with Former Professors

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:49 am
by megaTTTron
random5483 wrote:
megaTTTron wrote:
Fark-o-vision wrote:You can still get a review of "A" grades, especially in classes that are largely based on a single exam. Just present it sort of as, you understand you did well and you appreciate that, and you you know you have the skills to continue to do well, but you'd like to understand a little better how you did well how you could do even better.
I did this in all my classes. Profs are so used to dealing with kids whining about grades, most will be more than happy to talk you through it, give you little comments on wrinkles (the things they find most interesting). Talk about your future, ask for advice, ask about their backgrounds. Show an interest, and likely it will be reciprocal. Good call on being proactive about this, it'll pay off.

Both your points sound good. I do not want the professors to think I am talking to them just to show my grades.

megaTTTron, I will definitely do what you said and ask them about their backgrounds. I am one of the few 1Ls in my school who is still undecided on what kind of law I want to practice so this piece of advice should be doubly helpful.


Thanks.
Don't believe your fellow 1Ls. Even with a summer of experience working for a judge I'm still undecided (i'm doing corporate this summer, go figure).

Re: Approaching / Maintaining Network with Former Professors

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:43 am
by random5483
megaTTTron wrote:
Don't believe your fellow 1Ls. Even with a summer of experience working for a judge I'm still undecided (i'm doing corporate this summer, go figure).

I know you are right, but seriously everyone seems to know what they want to do. Then again at the start of the semester I felt like everyone was smarter and harder working than me. I might just be a bad judge of these things!

Re: Approaching / Maintaining Network with Former Professors

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:47 pm
by kalvano
Find a professor with an interesting career path and go talk to him / her about it.