The following are the top five things that get on a professor’s nerves:

·        Excuses. There isn’t an excuse in the book that a college professor hasn’t heard. It’s not that they have heard the excuse you choose to give them before that annoys them, but that you have one to begin with. College students are expected to hold a level of maturity and responsibility, that being said, they feel that students should have prepared and thought things through so that they get the job or assignment done. After all, they are no longer in high school.

·         Distractions. Whether its texting or just making a comment to the person next to you, professors (and fellow students) find it distracting- and annoying. They may even find it disrespectful. After all, the professor is trying to teach and here you are not thinking about those around you that are trying to get something out of the lecture. If you’re not careful, they may give you a cold stare or even make a comment about it to the class.

·         Showing-up late. Most students wouldn’t think that a professor would notice when, or even if, they came to class late, especially in an auditorium size setting with hundreds of students. But if walking-in late becomes a habit of yours, they will and do take note. How can they not when you trying your hardest to be quite, but instead the door slams behind you, end up asking 5 people to move so you can get a seat, and are scuffling around to find the right place in the text book?

·         Disregarding Directions. Professors take great care trying to put assignments together and making the directions as clear as possible. Directions and deadlines are set so that everything is more orderly and concise. Disregarding directions, even if it’s unintentional, is a major annoyance to the professor or TA grading your paper or exam. It is a good enough reason to knock a whole letter grade down or even flunk you.

·         Improper Title. Huh? Don’t annoy the professor by addressing him or her improperly. Find out what they prefer to go by: Dr., Mr., Ms., or Mrs.  Most of the time they will notify their students early on as to what they like to go by. And, don’t call a professor by his or her first name unless they ask you to.