There are innumerable teachers that exist around the globe. But you may wonder; who is a professor and why is there a special term for this profession when there is already an existence of the term ‘teacher’. Don’t worry; there are thousands of people like you who don’t know about the difference between a teacher and a professor. While a teacher teaches in schools, a professor generally teaches in colleges or reputed universities wherein he holds a special post. In the university where the professor works, he holds a special chair for himself and has a lot of authority. In the end, he too comes down to the classrooms and interacts with the students and teaches them. Yet, he is far higher than a teacher in terms of authority. While teaching is a general concept, professorship is a much more focused term.
Following are the 7 best tips we can think of that would help you be a professor at a reputed college or university:
1) Complete the necessary education to be a professor:
Every country has its own rules when it comes to be a graduate and do additional diplomas to be a professor at any college or university. It is essential for you to understand the rules of your country and education system. Once you are aware about the basic and required educational qualification that you need to become a professor, opt for the same and later try to get some more diplomas. Higher the educational qualification you possess, better the salaries would be for you as a professor. Therefore, make your educational qualification strong enough to support you when you walk in for the interview as a professor. Moreover, if you are highly qualified and well educated, some of the universities personally invite your as a guest professor at the institute.
2) Opt for a Master’s degree in the field you wish to teach:
You can’t teach someone things that have been present in the fields from ancient times, without knowing about them at first. Therefore, you need to opt for a Master’s degree in the field that you wish to teach others on. For an instance, if you are someone with a *thing* for literature, get your Master’s in Literature and strengthen your resume furthermore before applying for the college professor position. With the help of such a degree, you would be renowned in the market for your education and knowledge in the field.
3) Apply for PhD:
Who doesn’t wish to be a Doctorate in something that he has immense knowledge in? If you think you have the potential to create your own project or thesis in your field of interest, it is time for you to apply for PhD. All the countries have different rules when it comes to applying for PhD. So, find your country’s rules, once again and apply in the required process. However, every country has an entrance test examination that the student needs to appear and clear before being eligible to work on thesis development to have his PhD completed.
4) Interact with your professors at college:
When you are applying for your graduate and post graduate degrees, you may have to attend certain classes at the university or college. Therefore, interact with your professors there and ask them how they can help you or at least guide you so that you can choose their careers as yours, as well. Show them how keenly interested you are in their work and how much you appreciate all that they have done for you, in terms of supporting you in your education, and how you wish to do the same things for others.
5) Be a part time teacher to get an experience:
In order to be a professor, you may initially start up as a teacher in some schools. However, let this not be your aim and let it only be a start. Take a few classes for students and get an experience in the field of teaching. This would help you boost your confidence levels and would make you stronger to stand in front of a crowded classroom of adults, when you reach the level of being a professor at college or university.
6) Apply in colleges to be a professor:
Start up with small colleges, if not the reputed ones, to be a full time professor with them. Once you have an experience or experiences in the field of professorship, you would surely be welcomed by reputed colleges and universities as well. However, till the time you are offered with a good position, enroll yourself with a suitable salaried job so that you are able to gather more knowledge in the field along with experience.
7) Keep yourself updated:
A professor needs to be fully equipped with the latest happenings around the world. However, these latest news have got to be related to his field or fields. Thus, full you basket of knowledge with current affairs related to your field and you would be able to distribute new things and thoughts in your classroom, to your students. This would also let you crack interviews in reputed colleges or universities.
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