How do I get back in touch with old professors?

January 8, 2006 8:42 AM

How do I get back in touch with old professors?

I transferred after my first year of college to an entirely different University, and am currently halfway through my junior year. It struck me recently that despite having had several wonderful professors, I haven't substantially kept in touch with any of them. This includes those who either taught(teach?) at the former school, were once at my current institution, or still actively teach where I am. Is it possible to create a friendship with some of these people? I've considered a few e-mail tactics (e.g. So, I've been reading into this topic...what books would you recommend?), but on the whole am unsure. One or two are folks who in the office hours I did attend got a sense of as people who'd be great to have in my life, even if only as an acquaintance - how to go about this?

posted by Ash3000 to education (12 comments total)

I would suggest, if plausible, handwrite a correspondence and include an email address for any response. Something handwritten will show a greater amount of sincerity than an email that might have been just typed off and sent in so many minutes. Make a point to refer back to a class they taught or something they said, etc. Something which will show to them that they've left a lasting (positive) impression upon you and how you think or see the world.

One thing I've noticed, is that depending on the institution, some professors simply don't have the time of day for students that they're not teaching or directly involved with. In reverse, some professors can be extremely open and happy to establish friendships or acquaintances.
posted by Atreides at 9:06 AM on January 8, 2006

IAAP: there's not much nicer than getting an e-mail from a former student who seems actually to remember or even have benefited from something I thought them. Do go ahead and write. "Can we be friends?" is perhaps a little strong, but the idea of asking for reading suggestions is a solid one -- I think most professors would be extremely happy to contribute to the continuing intellectual development of someone they've taught. And of course your responses to what you read could be the basis of a longer-term correspondence, if that's the way things develop.
posted by escabeche at 9:13 AM on January 8, 2006

It kinda sounds like you're overthinking this. Just send a relatively short email saying who you are, which class of theirs you had, and a paragraph or two of what you're up to now. I don't think you really have to try to be topical or "talk shop" or anything. Just say hi in a few paragraphs.

But I wouldn't suggest sending a long rambling letter explaining in detail how much you got out of their class or explaining minutiae of why you transferred and what you're doing now -- work up to that so that you have something for future exchanges. I think you just want to break the ice and determine that they're interested in having a dialog first.
posted by Rhomboid at 9:17 AM on January 8, 2006

IAAP also: I can't tell you how much we enjoy hearing from former students who enjoyed and benefited from our classes. It is the greatest form of job satisfaction there is. Just go ahead and drop them an email, remind them of who you are, and ask a questions about something related to their field.
posted by LarryC at 9:36 AM on January 8, 2006

I2AAP. Email to me from former students, on whatever pretext, is awesome, especially because it's rare. Totally agree that you're overthinking this -- just drop them a line.

Something handwritten will show a greater amount of sincerity than an email that might have been just typed off and sent in so many minutes.

Piffle. The fact that you write, when it's not about "Can you write a letter in support of changing/removing my old grade" but just to say hello, is sincerity enough. Snail mail is just a pain.

If there's a URL with a recognizable and unembarassing picture of you, by all means include it to aid the memory-jogging.
posted by Aknaton at 10:12 AM on January 8, 2006

It might be worth it to look up their research, too. Most schools publish information on what their faculty is currently working on, and academics generally love talking about their research.
posted by snickerdoodle at 10:15 AM on January 8, 2006

a word of caution - it's easy to confuse the prof/teacher with the cool stuff they're teaching you. when you go back later, having learnt what they had to offer, they end up being just like everyone else. it can be a bit embarassing and/or depressing to find that the superhuman guru you remember is, in fact, mortal.

or perhaps only i have that problem...
posted by andrew cooke at 11:11 AM on January 8, 2006

IAAP4, underlining most everything escabeche, LarryC, and Aknaton say. Email from former students roxxors (even if they just want recommendation letters, though slightly less so in that case). Ask for reading recommendations. Ask about recent developments in the field that you read an article about in the Sunday NYT and thought of them. Ask about their research if it's something you care about (don't fake it; life's too short for that). Ask about gossip in the department. Let them know what you're doing and that you remember them with warm fuzzy feelings. Offer to buy them a beer next time you're in the neighborhood. (That last one is about as far as I'd go in the "Can we be friends?" direction.)

It's true, as andrew cooke points out, that professors, while they may seem superhumanly smart, together, with-it, quirky, and engaging, are people too. There is a possibility for disappointment here. Still, I'd say go for it, for your sake and for theirs. (Someone more cynical than I might say that teaching is a kind of role-playing, and so leads ineluctably to such disappointments, but I decline to comment.)

Oh, and absotively posilutely no snail-mail. I don't answer letters from my grandmother, I'm going to break out the stationery for you? Nope.
posted by gleuschk at 11:32 AM on January 8, 2006

(that last line doesn't read the way it did in my head. replace with something less stupid, please. thanks. also insert 'attractive, nice-smelling, well-dressed' after 'quirky'.)
posted by gleuschk at 11:52 AM on January 8, 2006

I don't have anything to add, really, but I wanted to say thanks. I've been debtating sending an email to one of my old professors ever since I returned from the UK (she taught English history, and was one of my very favorite people), and this kicked me into actually composing the email.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:25 PM on January 8, 2006

IAAlsoAP, and emails from formers are great. I'd also vote against snailmail (unless you know you're dealing with a quaint sort). Also, know that your email may be well received and still move quickly to low priortity in an overflowing in-box! Imagine your note being well-received even if the reply is brief and/or slow...
posted by Mngo at 1:08 PM on January 8, 2006

Speaking as an academic I'd be generally quite happy to hear from ex-students but would much prefer a short email. Content: say what you're up to, ask how they are, don't be gushy, don't go on about forming acquaintances. Frankly a written letter going on like that would mark you as a loon.
posted by biffa at 2:47 AM on January 9, 2006