Ask Ava 04/11/25

Q: "My professor knows my name. Is that good or should I be scared?"

A: Some of my favorite people on this campus are my professors. Being caught off guard is normal when you’ve just been name-dropped by someone whose will you bend to in hopes of receiving a passing grade, but let’s think of this as an opportunity for best-friendship. Or at the very least, that passing grade. 

I guess this really all depends on the context of which you’ve been name-dropped. Maybe you’ve been late to class all semester and have garnered a bit of a reputation with this professor. Or your perspective on the class discussion was one of the more unique ones they’ve heard. Our professors know loads of students, and the ways they remember or distinguish us aren't always going to be for our stellar articulation or how fast we complete tests. This alone should be enough to tell you that regardless of why they know your name, you should consider the fact that they remember you – amidst the mass of former and current students that fill their memory – a good sign that they probably don’t hate you. 

One of my English professors a few years ago practically started the semester by

ragging on me for submitting essays that were way longer than he’d asked for. While it wasn’t the best first impression I’ve made, it was a foot in the door and an ice breaker. Instead of sinking into the floor, I laughed, apologized and promised to rein it in. Spoiler alert: I did not rein it in. But we ended up having some great conversations during office hours, and by the end of the semester, he was one of my biggest supporters. And today, he submits recommendation letters on my behalf and works with me on writing that isn’t even for his class.

So, even if your professor knows your name because of something a little awkward – talking too much, writing too much, showing up too little or late – it doesn’t mean you’re doomed. It means you’re on their radar. And being on a professor’s radar, if handled correctly, can be the gateway to candid conversations, mentorship or a little more grace when your next assignment is turned in two hours past the deadline.