8 Traits of Amazing College Students By Alex Herzog Ed.D.

If you are going to follow the pack.. follow this pack!

Well, its that time of year when folks of all walks of life start standing college.  Whether you retaking classes for enrichment, increasing your job skills, seeking a degree or all of the above, there is a formula to being successful in college.  If you follow these 8 traits of amazing students you too will walk away with not only a solid college degree but also important job skills that will be the foundation for your career.

1.  Amazing students are self-driven to achieve their goals and education.

Amazing students are empowered through self-motivation to drive their education.  They show strong desire and motivation to complete their education and not just complete it, but allow it to transform them into something better.  They don’t quit especially when facing overwhelming odds.  In advance of taking classes, know what you want from your college experience.  Explore careers that interest you and set some goals you have in life.  The results of this exploring and goal setting will help you get back on track if you veer off the path.  Think about what your plan B might look like when plan A is not possible.  Too many students quit when they hit an obstacle when all they really needed to do was to have a plan B and implement accordingly. 

2.  Amazing Students go to class and read the syllabus.

Although you might think.. Duh! You would be surprised how many students find themselves in trouble early on in their academic career. Amazing students go to class and if for some reason they can’t go to class they are communicating with the professor and also asking what they might have missed.  You are paying for your education; get the most out of it by going to class. Also, amazing students will read the course syllabus and mark important due dates and test dates in a calendar.  They read the instructors policies and expectations.  This document should be viewed as a contract between you and the Instructor.   Keep it safe and follow it closely.       

3.  Amazing students do the work.

Going to class is just not enough.  Amazing students will do the work expected of them.  They take good class notes and then rewrite those notes by the end of the day.  Studies show that students retain learned material at higher rates if they rewrite their notes before the end of the day they took them.  You could also rewrite them by typing them.  Although studies show that typing notes up by using a laptop or iPad shows lower retention than if you had handwritten the notes. 

Also, as you read the material, write down questions related to the topics you are reading.  Bring them to class and be sure to ask the instructor.  It speaks volumes to instructors that you are engage in the class and making an effort to learn the material.  Showing that kind of effort can easily turn a “B” into a “B+”! 

To get a head start during the summer and winter breaks, find out what the instructor is planning for the course in terms of reading material and start reading.  Having a base of knowledge before going to class will help you better understand the lectures and have an overall better learning experience.

Amazing students also connect with classmates and join or form study groups.  If you are assigned a group project, be active and do your share of the work.  Working together in groups is an excellent experience and can help reinforce learning that will benefit you beyond a letter grade.    

In my career in higher education, I have heard every excuse one can come up with to avoid doing the work.   Nothing worth getting is ever done so easily.  Make an effort and you will gain much from the experience.   

4.  Amazing students get involved.

Service learning is a higher education buzzword that means applying what you learned in the classroom to the regional community.  Professors take their classes out in to the community and have students apply what they have learned to find answers or solve a problem.  For instance, the chemistry professor that has his class test for lead paint on the homes of the local community.  If your class isn’t doing something like this, ask the instructor if an activity like this could be arranged. 

Getting involved in college can take many forms.  Amazing students will join clubs and organizations that surround activities that they enjoy.  Involved students can apply skills learned in the classroom and develop new ones like running a meeting or conflict resolution.  These soft skills are often essential to navigating the real world and sought after by employers.  Students in Student Government or elected type student leadership positions will often receive scholarships and or stipends for their time and effort too.

5.  Amazing students seek to understand the differences among us.

If you want to achieve success after college, you need to understand that we all come from different backgrounds and upbringing.  Amazing students make an effort to be culturally competent.  They make an effort to connect and make friends with students coming from various backgrounds and cultures.  Technology makes the global workplace a reality for even small businesses.  Learn how to socialize and communicate with different cultures so that you can be a valuable asset to your organization. 

6.  Amazing students know where the money goes.

Amazing students are aware of the costs of college.  They value the experience and the investment they are making in themselves.  However, they are smart to avoid excessive student loans and seek out scholarships to help pay for their education.  Amazing students will work 10-15 hours a week while taking classes and learn to manage their money.  They will refrain from getting a credit card and minimize student loans to avoid going into debt.       

7.  Amazing students work to stay healthy.

Staying healthy is at the core of an amazing student’s daily activities.  Stay active by getting involved in college intramural sports or clubs that conduct regular outings like a hiking club.  Be careful of what and how much you eat at the cafeteria.  If you don’t know what the best food options are for your, ask the dining hall staff for a food guide and plan your meals ahead of time.  If you just don’t know, use the Internet to learn what the best food options are out there for you.  Pizza and burgers are ok in moderation but should not be eaten everyday!    

8.  Finally, amazing students makes the most of their time.    

Amazing students plan their time.  They make a schedule and keep to it.  They plan for the work, studying and more importantly the plan their fun time.  General study rule is to plan at least two hours of study time for every hour you spend in class.  With a 15 Credit hour load, you should be studying about 30 additional hours a week.    

No matter where you got to college and what you plan to study, follow these traits of amazing students and you will find that success is within your reach.  I always tell my kids, its not enough just to do the job, you should strive to do the job well.  Follow the path of amazing students and you too will be amazing. 

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Life After College for Student Leaders By Alex Herzog Ed.D.

Change is a hard concept to endure.  Moving from full time college student to full time workforce is a tough transition.  It can be twice as hard if you were a student leader!

Were you the big cheese on campus?  You might have been the President of your campuses student government or maybe your were the Vice President.  You knew all of the college’s trustees by first name and they knew your name too! You might have had the President of the college’s ear whenever you saw them on campus or when you just walked into their office.  I bet you had their cell phone number too!  It’s also likely you had your own office and attended all the college’s foundation events.  Oh and you were always offered seats in the Presidents box but you always declined them to sit in the student section… but not for the whole game.  Students on campus knew who you were and respected you.  Professors were delighted to have you in class and often would recruit you to take their class.  

It’s been a few months since graduation and after several interviews you got yourself a job, but its likely not the one you were expecting to have.  You do have your own cubicle but trying to talk with your manager is almost impossible without an appointment unless you have some sort of food bribe.  But, you aren’t discouraged yet.  As you were preparing to graduate, you were persistent and armed yourself with many reference letters from administrators and professors that all but state you cured cancer in your spare time between classes.    

Reality is slowly sinking in.  You are realizing that you aren’t in college anymore.  You are part of the 8-5 work world that you so often laughed at, silently swearing to yourself that it would never be you.   I bet you are starting to miss all that those connections and experiences you had during your college days.

Don’t fret.  This scenario (or perhaps something similar) happens a lot in the lives of former student leaders.  You had commanded the respect of many or those you revered but now the reality is sinking in that you are starting over.  But starting anew can be a good thing.  

Think back to your first days when you were in your leadership role on campus.  What were those great skills and qualities that you exhibited that earned you respect and credibility?  Those might include motivating others, staying in the office long after others have left, relationship building with other student leaders, team building, communication, engaging new students and creating a buzz about your vision just to mention few.  

If this sounds like your situation then here is what you need to do.  Use what you know has helped you be successful before and apply it to your new work environment.  You have a proven track record for success and that is probably why you were hired in the first place.

First step, take some time get to know your supervisor.  What are their expectations, likes and dislikes, favorite sports teams, favorite place to eat..  get to know them!  Next, know the company you work for.  Read the employee manual; memorize the vision, mission and company values.  Next, put in the time in the office.  I suggest coming in before your supervisor and not leaving until they leave.  Stay busy throughout the day and take initiative.  Show them you are an invaluable asset.  When you see an opportunity to improve a process, take the initiative and offer your expertise.

Its sounds easy but it’s not.  It takes dedication and you will be forever always thinking about the next better job.  However, you shouldn’t forget your passion.  Keep it in mind and take time to work towards the skills you might not have, that you might still need to develop. Keep a journal and document your thoughts and what work you are doing to move towards your passion.  Keep dreaming big but stay grounded in the reality of your dream. 

Based on my years of working with student leaders and keeping good connections with them after college, has shown me that former student leaders find their groove quickly and are often very successful in their chosen endeavors.  Starting over sucks, but trust me when I tell you to trust in your skills, capabilities and instinct.  Go the extra mile whenever you can, good things will happen.  I have seen it happen many times you just need to be patient and keep learning!

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