If you have always loved learning and helping others, becoming a teacher might be the right for you. While some prefer working with younger student such as elementary age or middle-schoolers, others prefer to work in colleges and universities. As a college professor, you’re able to share what you’ve learned over the course of both your educational path and your life as well. You’re also able to have in-depth conversations with your students, something that’s not possible when you teach younger students. You need certain qualifications, both educational and professional, before you can become a college professor.

What is a Professor?

Before we get into the how, it’s important for you to know what a professor is. You’re already aware they’re a type of teacher, however, that is barely scratching the surface. A college professor can specialize in many fields and teach high-level academic courses within universities and community colleges. Professors are masters of their selected fields and aspire to teach others what they know.

Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree

As with any kind of career, the first step you must take is earning your bachelor’s degree in your chosen field. When it comes to being a professor, you’ll need more than one degree. In fact, most college professors have a Ph.D. before they’re ready to teach at a university. While you should always prioritize what you’re passionate about, it’s important for you to have a BA in education as well. Paying for college isn’t easy for everyone, which is why you should consider taking out a student loan to cover the costs. Student loans give you quick and easy access to the funds you need for your supplies, equipment and even room and board should you decide to study on campus.

Pursue Your Master’s Degree and Doctorate

An undergraduate’s degree may take four years to complete, but it’s only the beginning. Whether you go right back into the fray or wait a little bit, your next step is to pursue your master’s degree. Pursuing both a master’s degree and a doctorate degree takes an additional two years to complete, but the information provided is more than worth the time and the cost. Speaking of the cost, you might be worried about paying off all the money you owe. Student loans are one of the most prominent forms of debt you’ll ever have, and having multiple payments can really make it difficult for you to have a balanced budget. 

Fortunately, you can easily combat this by consolidating your student loans. Student loan consolidation is when you take all your existing student loans and combine them into a single payment. More specifically, it becomes a brand-new loan that you pay off over time. Since master degrees can cost over $60,000 on average, consolidating is a great way to maintain financial stability as you pursue your dream of becoming a college professor.

Get Hands On Experience

Once you complete your education, now’s the time to get some hands on experience. Aspiring college professors need to have a diverse portfolio to enrich their education. You can pursue work in the field, take on an apprenticeship, or volunteer. The more hands-on experience you get in your selected field, the more likely you are to be hired for the position.

Have a Solid Network

A network is a list of well-trusted contacts you can turn to for advice, information, and even new opportunities. To be a bit more specific, a professional network is like a web. Who you’re in contact with have contacts they can defer to. Think of it like a positive domino effect. You could network every day of the week if you’re open to talking to new people.

Complete Your Own Work and Publish It

Academic professionals are leaders in their field. One of the best ways to make a solid impression during interviews is presenting your own published academic research. It shows you’re passionate about the field. What you research solely depends on the field you’re in. You can write articles and create e-books based on your findings.

Start Applying

Once you have everything in order, it’ll finally be time to start applying for your teaching position. This can take a while, so it’s important to be patient. You can apply for these positions through university sites or through a portal such as Indeed or Glassdoor. Another thing to keep in mind is the competition; becoming a college professor is very competitive. You need to be at the top of your game when applying. Keep yourself composed and confident during interviews and spare no details.