Why use office hours?
Office hours are your time to meet with your instructors to ask questions, get and share feedback, learn about opportunities, make connections & more. Here are some reasons why you might consider visiting your instructors' office hours:
- Clarification. If you're unsure about directions for an assignment, something that was said in class, or anything else for your course, use office hours to talk with your instructor.
- Questions. Sometimes you might have a question, or several, that don't get answered in class. Maybe questions will come up while you're reading or completing homework. Use office hours to ask! Unsure what to prioritize studying for an upcoming exam? You can ask your instructor that too! Here’s a checklist worksheet to help you prepare.
- Interest. Perhaps your instructor is doing exactly what you want to do someday. You can use office hours to learn about what they did to get where they are.
- Mentorship. Take office hour time to develop relationships with the people you might later ask to write a letter of recommendation. When you visit office hours, you get to practice professionalism, relationship building, and communication!
- Opportunity. Eager to get involved? Connect with your instructors during office hours to learn about opportunities for research, employment, conferences, and more.
When and how to use office hours
Begin early in the term & go often. If you don't have questions right away, you can share something from the course that interests you or just say hello. These interactions connect you with your instructor and help you practice this kind of exchange. At any point in the term, you can visit to get feedback on exams or papers!
Check your syllabus for key information. Your course course syllabus should include the day(s), time(s), modality (Zoom or in-person), and physical location or Zoom link for your instructor's office hours. If their office hours don't work with your schedule, look for their email address and email them to make an alternative appointment.
Learn how to access office hours in online courses. Instructors of online courses are expected to hold office hours for students, at least by appointment. Information on the modality and availability of your instructor should be available in the syllabus. If not, you are encouraged to reach out to ask.
What do faculty say about office hours?
“Students often feel intimidated to visit — but I hope they do! Complex material sometimes needs multiple explanations.”
“Questions show you care about learning. I enjoy hearing about students’ interests.”
What do students say about office hours?
“As a timid person, office hours were out of my comfort zone… now I see it as essential.”
“Go to as many office hours as you can; the relationship helps.”
Strategies for successful office hours
- Prepare before you go. Show up ready to talk. Write your questions down beforehand, and bring them with so you can take notes while you're there. If you want to talk about a test or a paper, or if you have a question about reading, bring these with so you and your instructor can reference them.
- Be active in the conversation. First, say "Hello, I'm [your name]. "I'm in your [course name] in section [#]." Begin the conversation with what you’re hoping to get out of the conversation. You might say, "I'd like to ask you about..." or "I'm having trouble with...Would you mind working through it together?"
- If you don't understand, ask more questions! If you don't understand what your instructor tells you, or if you have new questions, you might say "I'm still not sure I understand," and then share your confusion. Seeking clarification demonstrates that you want to learn. Don't be afraid to say "I have another question about..." Be sure you have answers before you leave.
- Go with a classmate. It can feel less intimidating to go with someone, or several people, from your class. Plan to meet together beforehand and decide what questions you'll ask your instructor. Maybe everyone will ask one or two of their own, or maybe you'll draft a list together and take turns.
- Make an exit plan. Before you visit office hours, decide how you'll know when you're ready to leave. What answers do you need to have? If there's a certain time you need to leave by, consider telling your instructor when you start "I'm glad to be able to meet with you. I need to be sure to leave by..." Knowing your exit cues ahead of time can help you to transition smoothly into saying "Thank you for meeting with me" or "It was really helpful to talk this through! I'll see you next class."
- Make visits a habit. We know it can feel hard to go to office hours, and awkward too. Just remember this is YOUR time, and visiting office hours shows your investment in learning. Your instructors are incredible resources and can help with your classes and your OSU experience. And they want to help! So schedule office hours into your weeks and go often and regularly.
- Advanced office hours. If you’ve got the basics down, use the time to brainstorm next steps for your learning, ask for feedback, ask about research your instructor is doing, or engage in an informational interview to learn more about your instructor's career path. You could also ask about any conferences, workshops, scholarships or other opportunities that you're interested in.
Frequently Asked Questions
During listed hours, it's fine to swing by. If you can't make listed times, make an appointment. If you're nearby in person outside those hours and want to see if they're available, knock if the door is closed. If it's open and someone else is meeting with your instructor, wave and wait to be invited in.
Yes! If you haven't introduced yourself yet, do that. Ask what strategies help students succeed. Share how you're preparing and studying and ask for suggestions. Meet early so the habit of visiting becomes easier.
No! Asking questions shows you're invested in learning. It's much harder to ask for help than to struggle alone. Your instructors have been students; they understand and want to meet with you.
Think about what you need. What's challenging? What's unclear? What's impacting your work? If you're still unsure, talk with your advisor or visit the ASC to brainstorm questions.