Asking Questions During Office Hours - Prof or TA?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the dilemma of whether to seek help from a professor or a teaching assistant (TA) during office hours, particularly in the context of understanding Taylor series in a special relativity and quantum mechanics course. The scope includes personal experiences, advice on academic interactions, and considerations for future academic references.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses anxiety about asking for help from a professor, feeling it may be embarrassing due to a lack of prior interaction.
  • Another participant suggests that the appropriateness of approaching a professor or TA may depend on the specific school and its culture regarding student-faculty interactions.
  • A different viewpoint emphasizes the importance of establishing a relationship with professors for future reference letters, advocating for visiting the professor.
  • One participant shares their experience of having a good rapport with a previous professor, indicating that past interactions can influence the decision of whom to approach for help.
  • Another suggestion is to start with the TA, as they may have more time and be more relatable, potentially helping to clarify misunderstandings before meeting with the professor.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on whether to approach the professor or the TA first, with some advocating for the professor due to future academic needs and others recommending the TA for immediate assistance. No consensus is reached on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants' suggestions are influenced by their personal experiences and the varying dynamics of different academic environments, highlighting the lack of a one-size-fits-all answer.

Who May Find This Useful

Students navigating academic support systems, particularly those new to a university environment or seeking guidance on how to approach faculty for help.

erok81
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I am currently a 3rd year student that has made it this far without ever asking a professor for help outside of class during their office hours (thanks PF). In fact, I've never even seen a professor's office. I know that isn't a good thing. :redface:

I've come to a point where if I don't find this out, I am going to be screwed. I cannot to problems involving taylor series for the life of me. I learned in calc II where we were given a formula and had to solve them. This was pretty much pointless. Now I have all sorts of problems where I have to taylor expand things when certain variables reach certain values etc.

The class in question is a special relativity class/intro to quantum mechanics. So learning taylor series is something that should have been done a while ago.

Who is the better person to bother with this question; the TA or the prof? Since it is such a basic question that I should know, I'm not sure if I want to embarass myself in front of the prof asking my questions.

What do you think? Any advice?
 
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It depends on the school. I went to a smaller physics program, and the Profs (at least most of them) were always glad to meet students and help them out. I would ask other students from the school, and see how this professor responds to students.

If you have never seen a professor's office AND you don't know other students, then I got nothing. Flip a coin? :-p
 
You should go to see your professor. You'll need some reference letters in the future, and if you've never seen the inside of an office, there's likely no one in a position to write you a positive letter at the moment.
 
This is my first semester at this particular school. I transferred after two years at a community college. My physics I and II professor could probably write my a decent LOR. A couple of us would stay after class (it was a night class) and talk to him for 20-30 minutes about school and non school related stuff. I was thinking about asking him for a LOR before he forgets me.:-p

As for other students...no friends yet. So I only have the TA and the professor to choose from.

But I suppose you guys are right. I'll have to eventually start talking to professors so I might as well get it over with when I have an actual question I need serious help with.
 
Actually, I would start with the TA. That's his job, he's closer to just having learned the material, and he likely has more time to spend with you. Even if he can't help you, he can probably identify the area of misunderstanding so you'll be better prepared when you talk to the professor.
 

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