10 Ways to Be a Great Student

Dare to be the best student you can possibly be

by
Deb Peterson
Updated August 27, 2018
You've decided to go back to school and you're ready to make the most of it. Dare
to be the best student you can possibly be with these 10 tips for great students,
including study hacks, tips for work/life balance, and how to establish rapport
with your teachers and classmates.

01
of 10
Take Hard Classes
College Classes
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You're paying good money for an education, make sure you get one. There will be
classes that are required for your major, of course, but you will have a fair
number of electives as well. Don't take classes simply to accrue credits. Take the
classes that really teach you something.

Be passionate about learning.

I once had an advisor that said to me when I expressed fear of a difficult class,
"Do you want to get an education or not?"

02
of 10
Show Up, Every Time
Studying for college
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Make your classes your highest priority.

If you've got children, I understand that this isn't always possible. Children
should always come first. But if you don't show up for your classes, you're not
getting that education we discussed in No. 1.

Make sure you've got a good plan for seeing that your children are cared for when
you're scheduled to be in class, and when you need to study. It really is possible
to raise children while you're going to school. People do it every day.

03
of 10
Sit in the Front Row
Student in front row
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If you happen to be shy, sitting in the front row can be very uncomfortable at
first, but it's one of the best ways to pay attention to everything being taught.
You can hear better. You can see everything on the board without having to crane
your neck around the head in front of you.

You can make eye contact with the professor. Don't underestimate the power of this.
If your teacher knows you're really listening and that you care about what you're
learning, he or she will be extra willing to help you. Besides, it'll feel like
you've got your own private teacher.
04
of 10
Ask Questions
Asking questions in class
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Ask questions immediately if you don't understand something. If you're in the front
row and have been making eye contact, your instructor probably already knows by the
look on your face that you don't understand something. A polite raising of your
hand is all you need to do to indicate you've got a question.

If it isn't appropriate to interrupt, make a quick note of your question so you

don't forget, and be sure to ask later.

Having said this, don't make a pest of yourself. Nobody wants to hear you ask a
question every 10 minutes. If you're completely lost, make an appointment to see
your teacher after class.

05
of 10
Create a Study Space
Study Space
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Carve out a place at home that is your study space. If you've got a family around
you, make sure everyone understands that when you're in that space, you're not to
be interrupted unless the house is on fire.

Create a space that helps you make the most of your study time. Do you need
absolute quiet or do you prefer to have loud music playing? Do you like working at
the kitchen table in the midst of everything or do you a quiet room with the door
shut? Know your own style and create the space you need.

06
of 10
Do All the Work, Plus More
Student in library
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Do your homework. Read the assigned pages, and then some. Plug your topic into the
Internet, grab another book at the library, and see what else you can learn about
the subject.

Turn your work in on time. If extra credit work is offered, do that too.

I know this takes time, but it'll ensure you really know your stuff. And that's why
you're going to school. Right?

07
of 10
Make Practice Tests
Making practice tests
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While you're studying, pay attention to the material you know will be on a test and
write a quick practice question. Start a new document on your laptop and add
questions as you think of them.

When you're ready to study for a test, you'll have a practice test ready.
Brilliant.

08
of 10
Form or Join a Study Group
Writing Group
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A lot of people study better with others. If that's you, form a study group in your
class or join one that's already organized.

There are lots of benefits to studying in a group. You have to be organized. You
can't procrastinate. You have to really understand something to be able to explain
it out loud to someone else.

09
of 10
Use One Planner
Date Book
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I don't know about you, but if I had a separate calendar for work, school, and
life, I'd be a complete mess. When everything in your life is on one calendar, in
one planner, you can't double-book anything. You know, like an important test and a
dinner with your boss. The test trumps, by the way.

Get a great calendar or planner with enough room for several daily entries. Keep it
with you at all times.

10
of 10
Meditate
Meditation
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One of the best things you can do to improve your entire life, not just school is,
meditate. Fifteen minutes a day is all you need to feel calm, centered and
confident.

Meditate any time, but try 15 minutes before you study, 15 minutes before class, or
15 minutes before a test, and you'll be amazed at how well you can perform as a
student.

https://www.thoughtco.com/ways-to-be-a-great-student-31625