Demystifying Office Hours
Want to connect with your professor? Trying to catch up in class? Looking for a study group? There’s no better way to achieve all of these goals than attending office hours.
Students choose to attend office hours for a variety of reasons. Primarily, office hours serve as a setting in which you can ask questions and receive personalized feedback as well as a place where you can collaborate with peers to make connections and enhance your understanding. You can also meet fellow students and discuss your thoughts about the class, share study tips, and use office hours as a way to find new friends!
Types of Office Hours
Professor office hours. A professor usually lists on their syllabus when they’re free to meet with students. During the specified day or window of time, you can head to a classroom or the professor’s own office as directed on the syllabus, and you can typically ask questions about course logistics, introduce yourself, and learn more about your professor’s academic projects outside of class. Professors are usually glad for office hours because it gives them a chance to get to know their students individually, and making this kind of connection is a good way to practice networking and take charge of your own learning.
GSI or TA office hours. If your course has a Graduate Student Instructor or a Teaching Assistant, they will likely hold drop-in office hours as well. As opposed to professors and lecturers, GSIs and TAs host office hours to focus specifically on classwork and homework, and students might find these office hours more helpful and accessible since the course staff are students themselves. Visiting these office hours can be a good idea if you don’t feel fully ready to reach out to a professor. You can ask about assignments or exams and get support if the material feels overwhelming. If you’ve been assigned a GSI or TA and aren’t able to make their office hours, know that it is generally okay to visit the office hours of any GSI or TA in your course without having to ask first.
Coffee hours. Some professors host more informal “coffee hours” in order to connect with students. In this setting, you’re encouraged to share more about your background and interests as well as discuss broader topics pertaining to the field of study of your class. These coffee chats with professors and other students can help indirectly expand your understanding of the materials covered in lecture and are a great way to involve yourself in a really interesting course. Just remember to be yourself and show a genuine interest in the field you’re studying; professors who host these coffee hours do so because they care about fostering good relationships with their students.
Labs & Discussions
Though lab sections and discussion sections are not always mandatory, they can often be a form of office hours in themselves.
Discussion sections are a great place to meet classmates and ask clarifying questions. These sections will often build on what is taught in lectures but with the benefit of the material being reviewed within a smaller group. The purpose of discussion is to ensure that each student can connect with peers, ask the GSI or TA questions, and have the resources needed to understand the content being taught. It can also be easier to find study partners and friends within a smaller group, rather than having to rely on forming connections solely during lectures.
Lab sections are often for introducing or completing additional assignments. You will most likely be busy completing a lab assignment individually or in groups, allowing you the chance to find a support system in your peers through collaboration. However, don’t be afraid to use any extra time you might have to ask your lab instructor questions! The purpose of lab is to supplement the contents of lecture, so this is also a good time to ensure that you fully understand what’s going on.
Find Support
Even outside of office hours, there are lots of resources you can use to reach out to classmates or instructors. Many classes at Berkeley will have some kind of online forum available for students to post any questions they might have. On Ed, for example, you can make public posts anonymously or private ones that instructors or staff can respond to. bCourses also allows you to ask questions under announcements posted by your instructor. These resources can be efficient ways to get some of your concerns addressed.
And finally, remember that you can always send your professor or GSI an email! Don’t hesitate to contact your course staff directly, especially if you need help on a time-sensitive issue. Check your syllabus for the professor and GSIs’ contact information and any guidelines they may have for contacting them.
Reva Gokhale, Class of 2027, is majoring in Society & Environment.
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