What makes a good student?

Now that we know what students think make a good teacher, I thought I would find out what teachers think make a good student.  Now I don’t just mean the basic, “show up for class” or “do the work.” I set out to find out what really makes a good student. So I asked around to some professors, and this is what they said.

A good student is:

 Organized. According to the professors I asked, students who come prepared succeed further in class. This means coming with all the right supplies (it is college-you should have a pencil), getting your work in order, and knowing what you are going to be doing in class. Most teachers give a schedule in their syllabus, so take a peek at the beginning of each week so you know what to expect.

Curious. A student who gets excited and is passionate about the subject they are learning about is bound to do better. Think about it; if you are interested in a class, you will pay attention more just in order to further your knowledge on a subject. So get curious! If you aren’t curious about the class, maybe it is not the best fit for you. If you need the class to graduate, try to find some aspect of the class that excites you.

Attentive. In order to succeed, you need to pay attention. Read the directions, listen when the teacher is speaking and be conscientious of what is going on in the class.

Self-Aware. A student who knows what kind of learner they are – visual, physical or auditory – can use this to their advantage. If you know how you learn best, you can figure out a way either on your own (bring your computer if you do better with that) or with your teacher (ask if you can record the lesson to listen to later) to integrate this style into your lesson.

If you practice these 4 suggestions, I am confident you will be a better student and further succeed here at MC or anywhere else you may go.

Thank you to all the professors who gave me your input!