Coming to Cornell, I thought I had a solid understanding of what office hours were: time professors allotted outside of class to help students understand difficult concepts and content. However, my time at Cornell has changed how I think about and approach office hours.

In high school, I often found it awkward to be in a room alone with my teachers as they helped me understand topics. Because of my previous experience, I refrained from office hours as much as I could in college. But, after a few months working alongside friends, seeking online resources, and even emailing professors and TAs — doing anything to avoid in-person contact with professors I perceived as intimidating — there came a point when I realized that talking to a professor would prevent much confusion and be the easiest option.

One thing I learned is that upcoming exams (also known as “prelims”) should not be the only time you go to office hours. Office hours in the days leading up to an exam tend to be the busiest as procrastinators try to get as many questions answered as possible. Not only does this prevent long-term retention but it also leads to office hours being jam packed, preventing all students from getting their questions answered. Thus, going to office hours right when you find something confusing, throughout the semester, is the best way to make the most out of these allotted times.

Another thing I learned is that TAs also hold office hours. These are a suitable route for those nervous about approaching a professor, which used to be me. Because I wanted to slowly acclimate myself to this type of environment, my first time going to office hours was with a TA. During my freshman fall semester, I tried using lecture notes and classmates to answer some of my questions, however, it was beyond their grasp. I approached the TA I was most familiar with and began to realize it wasn’t as bad as I had thought it would be. This experience taught me that you should capitalize on office hours offered by TAs because they are often the people grading your exams, essays, and other assignments. If they see you making an active effort in learning class material, it may impact how they work with you.

Lastly, I learned you should get to office hours as early as possible, especially if there is an upcoming exam, and be prepared with your questions. When I plan on going to office hours, I think of the questions I want to ask beforehand so I can be as efficient as possible. I also normally try to get there early since professors and TAs take questions in order of who comes first.

Acknowledging that asking for help is the first step in getting your questions answered will alleviate any anxiety or uneasiness that you may experience from talking to your professors. Remember, your professors and TAs want you to succeed. They are here as your resource, and making those connections early will help you succeed.