The Characteristics of a Great Student

Regardless of whether they attend high school, college, or even a local piano class, great students have a distinct set of traits that set them apart from the rest. Mind you, when we say ‘great students’, we don’t necessarily mean students who ace every exam conducted in colleges and universities. Although academic excellence is a key benefit of being a great student, getting good grades solely is in no way a definitive indicator of being one. So, how would you know if you’re a good student? See if the following qualities describe you, and decide for yourself.

They’re Curious

A common factor among great students that differentiates them from the rest is their inquisitive nature and the desire to learn new things. They have a seemingly insatiable hunger for knowledge, which, often, cannot be satisfied just through the lectures they attend. They always want to know more. They’ll take great effort to find alternative ways to get the answers to their questions. If they don’t have access to their teachers, they’ll quickly go about browsing the college or university library, or the internet in search for answers. They are thrilled by the prospect of learning something new and never miss an opportunity to do so.

So, if you’re in class (regardless of the program or the course you’re in) and notice someone seemingly lost in the lecture with visible enthusiasm and focus, you’ll know someone is curiously engaged in learning. And you’ll also know who’ll probably ace that exam!

They’re Organized

Good students are organized and have a preplanned system for nearly everything they do. They plan their days ahead so they have enough time to do all they need to – be it study, sports, social activities, or relaxation. Since their lives, in general, are well organized, they are usually very relaxed and rarely hassled by tight schedules or deadline troubles. They (almost) always submit their work on time, unless something really unexpected prevents them from doing so.

They Always Show Up

Discipline is a key facet of being a good student. Creating study plans and general schedules for daily tasks is just half the work – following through with them on a consistent basis is the real challenge. You’ll rarely find a good student cramming. To prevent the need to cram at the eleventh hour, they plan study sessions by breaking down even the most daunting of syllabi into smaller, more manageable portions, which they work at on a regular basis throughout the semester. Good students do their best to never skip lectures and study sessions, which enables them to maximize their learning.

They Know What They Don’t Know

Good students, regardless of how great they generally may seem like, have weaknesses just like regular students. The difference is in that they are aware of their shortcomings and take remedial and compensatory action to overcome them. A good student is not one who has no weak subjects, but one who is aware of one’s weak subject and strategically plans to overcome that barrier. This might mean studying extra time for the problematic subject, approaching teachers from their colleges and universities, or trying different learning strategies.

They Can Teach Themselves (And Others as Well)

Finally, a good student is someone who’s an independent learner. They are capable of learning without much guidance and resourcefully devise ways to learn even the most complicated of subjects. In addition to teaching themselves, they are generally willing to work with and teach their peers. As you might know already, the best way to remember or master something is to teach it to someone else.

Now you know the different qualities that make a good student. You’ll notice that none of these is an innate trait that only a select few are born with. These skills can be developed through awareness and conscious practice. We just dealt with the awareness bit – now it’s up to you to bring it into practice.