Office hours
Setting office hours for the upcoming semester is always a difficult task plagued by a number of questions. How early is too early? Can your average undergrad make it to a 9:30 office hour? Or will you be stuck setting up innumerable meetings at 4pm? Are ten other teaching assistants and associates holding their office hours at the same time? How many hours do I have to be available? I teach three classes-- does that mean I have to be available for three hours? And if so, will I die of boredom?
I have notes from my first day of TA orientation, two years ago. Another graduate student, much further along than myself, was speaking to us and giving advice. Two key pieces of advice still stick out: 1) bring something to work on during office hours (because rare is the student who shows up); 2) don't take apathy personally. All good advice.