Do you meet with your profs outside of class time?

I would only go to office hours if I needed assistance with the course in some way. I have no desire to work on a personal relationship with them. With the nursing courses, I suspect I will want to be on good terms with them, they probably have more to offer in the long run then a chat with my general chemistry teacher. :chuckle

I go to a Christian University and it's a completely different atmosphere from what it sounds like at some of the other schools. They hug us all, I had one teacher bring homemade baked goods for every class meeting, and last quarter two of my professors got a group of my classmates together to watch Sex and the City after the Pediatrics final! After our last clinical its routine for the clinical group and instructor to go out to eat at a restaurant and finish clinical evaluations there. I don't think I have created any relationships with professors that would evoke me to call them but I know many classmates that have made strong friendships with professors.

Kinda weird in my book but it's a really nice atmosphere! :redbeathe

At my nursing school, we have one professor that makes herself very accessible, however at our nursing orientation, the program director, flat out said that the teachers are not there to be our friends, and to not address them by their first names. I also think some students are more needy than others, and may look for that extra approval?

no we never socialized after school with our professors ... it was bad enough seeing them during school hours... blech ..... but they should be accessable to email or call if you had a question

no...i only approach professors outside our classroom if it is about our lessons/topics..

i usually do if i dont quite understand some of the things that was taught in class

YES! See once you are in your Junior year of college (assuming ur going for a BSN) you will want to know you professors. They are the ones that write you the recommendations for jobs/scholarships for further study/etc. They will be the ones who will solve ur clinical issues. you dont have to be all "buddy buddy" with them. But do make sure to go see them at the beginning of the semester just to introduce yourself and talk about the expectations of the course/clinical...when the 1sst test is...general things. After the initial meeting I just keep in touch with email since...well there wont be any awkward silences. Usually I keep them updated on labs/clinicals and sommetimes if I find something interesting or crazy online I would send them a link with a bit of my opinion in it.

The point is, that most professors wont write you a recommendation unless they know u exist. And those that mite will just write a generic one that holds less meaning to the ppl reading it. If they know you, they will also know your qualities, strengths, weaknesses, and how an institution can benefit by having you. Also, they know what type of learner/worker you are so if (by some chance) you need 1 point to pass the class or something, they will give it to you for the effort you show.

Trust me...it's a purely professional thing...since someday you might be working with them and they will be your peers.

hope this helped.