Cuesta College's
Study Skills
Characteristics of a
Successful Student
Many students
new to college do not know what it takes to be successful in the
college environment. They understand good and bad grades in a general
way, and they sense that they should attend classes, but that is where
their knowledge begins and ends.
Most instructors know what a good student is - and is not.
For one thing, a good student is not necessarily the most intelligent
individual in the class.
The following is a list of some characteristics of good
students. This list is a description of what a hard-working student
does and what a teacher likes to see. By learning these
characteristics, you may better understand the day-to-day and
class-to-class behavior of successful students. The idea is to provide
you with guidelines you can follow which will help you get down to the
business of becoming a serious, successful student.
- Successful students attend classes regularly. They
are on time. They listen and train themselves to pay attention. If they
miss a session, they feel obligated to let the instructor know why
before class begins, if possible, and their excuses are legitimate and
reasonable. They make sure they get all missed assignments (by
contacting the instructor or another student), and understand
specifically what was covered in class. Successful students take
responsibility for themselves and their actions.
- Successful students take advantage of extra credit
opportunities when offered. They demonstrate that they care about their
grades and are willing to work to improve them. They often do the
optional (and frequently challenging) assignments that many students
avoid.
- Successful students are attentive in class. They don't
talk, read, or stare out windows. In other words, they are polite and
respectful, even if they get a little bored. They also participate in
class even if their attempts are a bit clumsy and difficult. They ask
questions that the instructor knows many other students may also have.
- Successful students see their instructors before or
after class or during office hours about grades, comments on their
papers, and upcoming tests. Successful students end up at their
instructor's office door at least once during the semester. They'll go
out of their way to find the instructor and engage in meaningful
conversation. These students demonstrate to the instructor that they
are active participants in the learning process and that they take the
job of being a student seriously.
- Successful students turn in assignments that look neat
and sharp. They take the time to produce a final product that looks
good, and reflects of a care and pride in their work. Successful
students seem driven to complete their assignments. All work and
assignments are turned in, even if some of their responses are not
brilliant.
