I have plans to write a much more detailed post regarding do’s and don’t of dealing with professors. But for now let it suffice to say that do not ever challenge any professor’s lesson during the class and in front of the entire class. I say ask questions, try to clarify things, and make sure you do whatever that you have to do to learn, but do not sound as if you are implying that he may be wrong and you know better.

Why am I bringing this topic up? Well it’s because it happened recently in my Accounting class, where the student clearly was at fault, and decided to stand up against the professor challenging his knowledge, and his credibility in his long-practiced profession. The topic of “opportunity cost” is discussed in both Accounting and Economics classes, and though it seems simple at first, it may be pretty complicated when it comes to applying it to problems involving numbers and other factors.

Sorry, I forgot to explain what opportunity cost is. I mean I think it’s pretty obvious, even for those majoring in Art, or Photography which has nothing to do with business theories, opportunity cost should be a very well known topic. But not everyone knows everything and therefore it makes sense to define opportunity cost. Opportunity cost is simply the cost of giving something up for something else. But don’t be fooled it’s pretty tricky.

Anyways, let me leave the details of opportunity cost out and stick to the story. For some strange reasons in a class of, I’d say 40 only 1 student had an extremely difficult time just accepting this simple yet tricky theory. He argued so much with the professor, he went so far with his objections raising his voice, that the poor professor inevitably resorted to these words: “…ask any Accountants, any CPAs, read in the GAAP, that’s what opportunity cost is. I’m not making it up. Sorry you may not like it, but that’s what the rule is.” And once the student had yet something else to reply back, the professor simply said “Ohhh, Jesus Christ. Here we go again!”

I’ll tell you that it’s very normal, and in any classroom, and in any colleges throughout the nation these situations happen. But should the student react in such a manner causing the professor giving up and not knowing what else to do? NO! I think professors do reserve much more respects than that. Especially professors like the one I’m talking about. Of course I may be accused of giving you a very biased story, and you may be right. But I have to say that firstly I am explaining the story from my point of view, and secondly I talked to many other friends in the class and realized that they also felt the same. Thirdly, no matter how wrong the professor is, which believe me often times they are WRONG, and that’s obviously because they’re human too, you cannot justify that kind of attitude just because the professor is wrong!

So for those freshmen out there, and for those who don’t know, you might want to listen to me and trust me on this on since I have spent almost the last 5 years dealing with many different professors, do not ever challenge a professor’s knowledge in an inappropriate manner. Try to use the right phrases. Make sure you sound polite. Say things like “sorry, I don’t understand”, “could you please explain this?”, “I’ll ask you at the end of the class”, and many other appropriate ways of asking. If you are not so much concerned with the courtesy of your professors and his well-deserved respect, then worry about the kind of grade you’re going to be getting. Remember that professors are as powerful in classrooms, as judges are in the courtrooms. Don’t ever forget that, at the end of the semester your entire destiny lays in the hands of your professor. I don’t say that if a professor’s personal interest in a student would make a difference in how a professor assigns grades, but I can say this with enough confident that sometimes you end up with a C+ and the professor knowing how polite, respectful, courteous, sharp, punctual, and motivated you were will help you end up with a B-.

Use your appropriate tone, and then do whatever you have to do to learn what actually “opportunity cost” is!