You’re in college. Think for a moment. Who are the most important people in your life right now? Are they the people that control your livelihoods, your confidence, and most importantly... your grades?
Of course.
I'm talking about your teachers, and impressing them may be your only shot as making it through college with your mind and body intact. But you don’t want to just coexist, do you? You want to impress them. Now how would you go about that?
Turning in your work and showing up to class everyday for a term is fine, but in order to go above and beyond there is so much more. “Participation is key.” Kelly Costigan, an upperclassman, explains. “Every teacher I’ve had loves the kid that raises their hand.”
Also important is showing up to class, obviously, but especially on the first day. If you can’t manage that for one reason or another, try talking to your teacher and explaining your situation. That not only shows commitment and respect, but also the ever-important 'responsibility' that your parents and teachers have been preaching to you since preschool. “Connecting in advance of your absence suggests you care about my class and my first impression of you.” explains LisaMarie Luccioni in her Top Ten Ways to Impress Your College Professor article.
Our upperclassman friend Costigan also says that he has learned to pay attention to the little things in his higher education. He says that while high school teachers may walk their students through their direction three of four times, college teachers are less willing to do so. Obviously exceptions can be made- if you missed a point in a lecture, if you don’t understand a few certain points, etc- but repeating yourself can be annoying for everyone. Listen up!
The impact these lessons can have on your college experience is astonishing. Learn them and learn them early. And yet despite their importance, it's the critiquing of your teacher’s performance that could really get you over.
“Criticizing a teacher?” you mutter to yourself, “how could that possibly endear you to your instructor? I’ll let Luccioni explain. She tells us that criticism, both positive and negative, are a massive assist. When used constructively, a teacher can better their teaching methods, can reach a previously unreachable levels of students, and can learn what works and what doesn’t.
Obviously the hard-boiled professors with tweed coats and 30 years of strict teaching discipline might not be exactly happy about being broken down by the bright-eyed visionaries we all are, but like any group of professionals, most are always looking for ways to improve and ways to reach their audience- you.
Follow these steps and you’ll soon see your name in the allusive “favorite students” list we know every teacher secretly keeps.
Of course.
I'm talking about your teachers, and impressing them may be your only shot as making it through college with your mind and body intact. But you don’t want to just coexist, do you? You want to impress them. Now how would you go about that?
Turning in your work and showing up to class everyday for a term is fine, but in order to go above and beyond there is so much more. “Participation is key.” Kelly Costigan, an upperclassman, explains. “Every teacher I’ve had loves the kid that raises their hand.”
Also important is showing up to class, obviously, but especially on the first day. If you can’t manage that for one reason or another, try talking to your teacher and explaining your situation. That not only shows commitment and respect, but also the ever-important 'responsibility' that your parents and teachers have been preaching to you since preschool. “Connecting in advance of your absence suggests you care about my class and my first impression of you.” explains LisaMarie Luccioni in her Top Ten Ways to Impress Your College Professor article.
Our upperclassman friend Costigan also says that he has learned to pay attention to the little things in his higher education. He says that while high school teachers may walk their students through their direction three of four times, college teachers are less willing to do so. Obviously exceptions can be made- if you missed a point in a lecture, if you don’t understand a few certain points, etc- but repeating yourself can be annoying for everyone. Listen up!
The impact these lessons can have on your college experience is astonishing. Learn them and learn them early. And yet despite their importance, it's the critiquing of your teacher’s performance that could really get you over.
“Criticizing a teacher?” you mutter to yourself, “how could that possibly endear you to your instructor? I’ll let Luccioni explain. She tells us that criticism, both positive and negative, are a massive assist. When used constructively, a teacher can better their teaching methods, can reach a previously unreachable levels of students, and can learn what works and what doesn’t.
Obviously the hard-boiled professors with tweed coats and 30 years of strict teaching discipline might not be exactly happy about being broken down by the bright-eyed visionaries we all are, but like any group of professionals, most are always looking for ways to improve and ways to reach their audience- you.
Follow these steps and you’ll soon see your name in the allusive “favorite students” list we know every teacher secretly keeps.
At A Glance
What: Impressing your college teachers
Who: Experienced students, teachers
Tips to survive your teachers:
- Turn in your work
- Participate, and be active in class
- Pay attention to directions
- Give your teachers constructive criticism
Helpful website: Ten Ways to Impress Your College Professor
Office counselor phone number: 541-917-478
