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Old May 22, 2015, 08:16 PM
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Walking Man Walking Man is offline
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Member Since: Mar 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 224
I've never felt like a world-class student, but I finished a lot of school. The suggestions above are great. Getting enough sleep and not doing all-nighters is a big one. I would add: Make sure you visit the teacher at least once during office hours.

The last I was in school I started to realize that the most important thing was to the instructor happy. I don't mean kiss up. Lexa said that if your teacher "suggests" a book you need to read it (or, if you don't have time, at least check it out and skim it). If your teacher wants quantity, give it to 'em. If they want quality, give them quality. If they want lots of footnotes, do footnotes. If they are always talking about a certain book or author, make sure you check it out. Don't give them what they don't want.

I always had problems in school because I was very hard-headed and self-willed. If I disagreed with the teacher I would write a paper disagreeing. I would challenge them in class. I didn't do this to be contrary. I wanted the teacher to explain why they thought differently, and if possible to persuade me to change my mind. I did it because I thought that learning was all about discovering the truth for yourself, etc. Well, still I think that's true, but taking a class from someone is not the same thing as talking to Socrates in the marketplace. If your teacher wants discussion and questions, discuss and ask. But, if your teacher wants you to be a silent disciple, you have to be a silent disciple.

I look at it this way, you have to get whatever you can from each teacher. Some are good teachers, some are bad teachers. In any case, the teacher is going to give you the best instruction they can. Your job is to take whatever they give you. You don't have to agree, or like the way they teach, but you have to cooperate and do what they want you to do to the best of your ability.
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