How to get the most out of your questions

academic advice study skills

Even at the doctorate level, many students struggle with phrasing questions in a clear way that will result in thorough and informative responses from others. This can leave the student feeling discouraged and unsatisfied with their effort to speak up, leading to a decreased willingness to ask questions in the future. Here are three key aspects to keep in mind while asking questions to achieve the most from your inquiries. 

Preface your questions

We’ve all experienced asking a question and then being told information we already knew. Prefaces help circumnavigate this issue! Implementing a preface describing what you already understand will direct the conversation towards more productive learning. 

Instead of Saying:

“How did you get that answer?”

Try Saying:

“I understand how you achieved the previous line, but am not sure what method brought you to the next line. Do you mind going into detail about how you arrived at your answer from the prior line? Thanks!”

This kind of phrasing explicitly shares what you're trying to understand and piece together, which allows your instructor to dive in at the precise moment of confusion, leading to a more productive conversation. 

Be specific!

If an introduction to your inquiry still leaves you wondering, try constructing a more precise question. This takes a bit of practice, as it requires you to collect your thoughts to best shape your ideas. 

Instead of saying:

“How did you solve that problem?”

Try saying:

“I am unsure how to approach this problem. I feel quite confident about the theory behind the problem, but am unsure how to begin. Do you mind providing an example of how to take the first steps in a similar problem? Thanks!”

By specifically identifying a place where you feel lost, you help your instructor narrow the scope of their response. Furthermore, gathering other relevant practice problems can be a stellar way to improve your critical thinking skills.

Mind your p’s & q’s 

Everyone has seen a heated back and forth between a teacher and a pupil, which appears akin to an intense debate rather than direct learning. This usually begins as a tonal issue! If you are ever worried about the tone of your questions, integrate a “please” or a “thank you.” Even within emails, which can be very hard to interpret, a simple “thanks!” is a simple way to recognize the other person and their effort in supporting your learning. 

Brian is a PhD student at Columbia University studying Chemical Engineering. Previously, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Statistics, and Chemistry, with a minor in Accounting at the University of California San Diego.

Comments

topicTopics
academics study skills MCAT medical school admissions SAT college admissions expository writing English MD/PhD admissions writing LSAT GMAT strategy GRE physics chemistry math biology graduate admissions ACT law school admissions interview prep test anxiety language learning academic advice MBA admissions premed personal statements homework help career advice AP exams creative writing MD study schedules Common Application summer activities test prep history computer science philosophy organic chemistry secondary applications supplements economics PSAT admissions coaching grammar mathematics research law statistics & probability psychology 1L ESL CARS SSAT covid-19 dental admissions legal studies logic games reading comprehension USMLE engineering Spanish calculus parents Latin verbal reasoning DAT PhD admissions case coaching excel mentorship political science AMCAS French Linguistics MBA coursework Tutoring Approaches academic integrity chinese medical school Anki DO English literature Social Advocacy admissions advice algebra astrophysics biochemistry business classics diversity statement genetics geometry kinematics mental health presentations quantitative reasoning skills study abroad time management work and activities IB exams ISEE MD/PhD programs STEM adjusting to college algorithms art history artificial intelligence athletics business skills careers cold emails data science functions gap year international students internships letters of recommendation logic mechanical engineering poetry resume revising science social sciences software engineering tech industry technical interviews trigonometry 2L 3L AAMC Academic Interest DMD EMT FlexMed Fourier Series Greek Health Professional Shortage Area Italian Lagrange multipliers London MD vs PhD MMI Montessori National Health Service Corps Pythagorean Theorem Python Sentence Correction Step 2 TMDSAS Taylor Series Zoom acids and bases amino acids analysis essay architecture argumentative writing art art and design schools art portfolios biomedicine brain teaser campus visits cantonese capacitors capital markets cell biology central limit theorem centrifugal force chemical engineering chess chromatography class participation climate change clinical experience community service constitutional law consulting cover letters curriculum dementia demonstrated interest dental school dimensional analysis distance learning electric engineering electricity and magnetism enrichment escape velocity european history executive function finance first generation student freewriting fun facts genomics graphing harmonics health policy history of medicine history of science hybrid vehicles hydrophobic effect ideal gas law induction infinite information sessions institutional actions integrated reasoning intern investing investment banking lab reports linear algebra linear maps mandarin chinese matrices mba medical physics meiosis microeconomics mitosis music music theory neurology neuroscience office hours operating systems organization pedagogy phrase structure rules plagiarism potential energy pre-dental proofs pseudocode psych/soc qualifying exams quantum mechanics