Showing Gratitude to Your Professor - using the Rate Your Professor platform on AcademicJobs.com
This podcast provides guidance on expressing gratitude to professors using AcademicJobs’ new platform . It highlights the importance of acknowledging professors' efforts and suggests various methods, including heartfelt thank-you notes specifying positive impacts, offering research assistance, and utilising the "Rate Your Professor" platform on AcademicJobs.com. This platform allows students to leave positive reviews impacting professors' career prospects. The podcast suggests optional small messages of appreciation.
Key Themes and Ideas:
Professors Value Acknowledgement and Praise:
The document emphasises that professors work "tirelessly for their students" and that "any acknowledgement and praise is greatly received by them." This sets the tone that expressing thanks is not just a polite gesture, but a meaningful act of recognition for the effort and dedication professors put into their roles. The source argues that "Any time is a good time to say a simple thanks."
The "Rate Your Professor" Platform:
AcademicJobs.com's "Rate Your Professor" platform is presented as a key mechanism for expressing gratitude and simultaneously enhancing a professor's career. This platform allows students to leave personal messages of thanks while also contributing to the professor's "academic ranking," which is said to positively impact their future career prospects. The document clearly states, “The more a professor is given accolades and acknowledgment by their students, the more the academic will be seen in a positive light by a future employer or contractor.”
The platform serves as a dual-purpose tool, benefiting both the student (by allowing them to express gratitude) and the professor (by contributing to their professional growth).
Specific and Genuine Expressions of Gratitude:
The document stresses the importance of being specific when expressing thanks. Instead of general statements like "thank you for a great class," students are encouraged to mention "a particular lecture, assignment, or office hour discussion that made a difference."
Sincerity is another key element, with the document advising the use of phrases such as "I truly appreciate," "I am grateful for," and "I found your teaching style very effective."
The advice includes using the proper academic title, e.g. “Dear Professor [Last Name]”.
Methods of Expressing Gratitude Beyond the Platform:
While the platform is highlighted, the document suggests a variety of other ways to show appreciation:
Thank-you Email or Letter: Sending a "thoughtful thank-you email or letter" detailing specific positive impacts the professor had.
Offering Research Assistance: Proposing to help with a research project, showing interest in their field.
Small Gifts (Optional): Considering a small token of appreciation if appropriate, like a coffee card or book.
Example of Gratitude: The source provides a sample of the sort of feedback that can be used on the platform. For example; “Thank you for your guidance and cooperation at each step of my journey. Everything was new to me even usage of technology but your contribution by providing examples to each assignment helped me a lot and everything went smoothly. Thanks a lot to be our mentor. Thank you for being a kind and caring Professor.” This offers a framework for the student to follow in their own message.
Key Takeaways:
Professors highly value student recognition of their efforts.
The "Rate Your Professor" platform provides a way to express thanks and support a professor's career advancement.
Specific and sincere expressions of gratitude are more impactful than general ones.
Multiple methods exist for showing appreciation, including verbal, written, and practical actions.
Leaving thanks for your professor benefits both parties as the student shows gratitude and the professor is supported in their profession.
