I have been a professor for almost 20 years, and it's amazing how the students have changed since I started teaching. I know my generation wasn't perfect. And I also know that every generation has some complaints about the younger people. In fact, isn't that how 'Generation X' got its name? It was supposedly sort of an 'unknown generation' with no real purpose. The Baby Boomers had causes that they fought for, such as being against the Vietnam War. But supposedly, the Gen Xers did not. And just so you know, I am a Gen Xer myself.
But this blog is not about the characteristics of different generations. It's about my observations of college students over almost two decades, and what they could do better. Since this is the start of a new school year, it might be helpful for new college students, new graduates, and their parents to think about some of the things that I have observed in my professional career. And while this is written from my experience, I can also tell you that most of the other college professors I know also agree with what I am going to say here.
Here six things college students shouldn't do:
1.Tell their professors, "I really need an 'A' in your class."
Whenever I hear this (and unfortunately, I hear it quite often), I always cringe. I always wonder this: "Whatever made students think that it's my responsibility to give them a certain grade?" It's almost as if they think that my strategy for grading papers is just throwing them down my stairs at home and see where they land. As if I'm going to say, "Okay, the ones on the top steps, they the A's. But those who tumbled all the way down to the bottom, those have to be the F papers." Not surprisingly, it doesn't work like that. Believe it or not, I actually read my students' papers, and grade all of their assignments as objectively as possible according to the rubrics set forth in each class.
2.Don't take responsibility for reading the syllabus and following class rules.
Most professors I know have some sort of attendance policy. Mine is two free absences, and after that, your grade starts going down. It's in my syllabus, and I talk about it the first day of class. I even tell them that I'm reasonable -- if they are sick, have a wedding, or an interview, etc. then just tell me ahead of time. Most professors aren't that nice! But believe it or not, I have students who miss almost 60% of the classes and then get angry with me when they get a grade "they don't think they deserve." And attendance is just one class policy that is disregarded by many students -- this is just an example. So it's important to read the class syllabus thoroughly and make sure you follow the rules. Because if you don't, you will be the one who suffers.
3.Expecting the professor to keep track of your progress and to remind you of assignments.
Another question I frequently get is, "How am I doing in this class?" This also makes my skin crawl. When I was a college student, I always knew exactly where I stood in every class. Most professors have a point system (myself included). In other words, maybe there are 1,000 points total in the class. All students have to do is remember and keep track of their grades. It's not that difficult to do. And as surprising as it may sound, I am not a walking grade book who has all my students' grades memorized at any given moment. I also hear, "I didn't know that was due today." Again, it's in the syllabus. You need to refer to it daily. If you're seeing a theme here, it's all about the students taking personal responsibility.
4.Don't proofread their papers.
As a professor, I don't want to have to spend 80 percent of the time grading a paper correcting grammar, punctuation, and run-on sentences. By the time you come to college, you should have the mechanics down pat. Many students write pretty well, but some of them just are so awful that I can't even understand what they're talking about. So, my advice is to always proofread your papers before you turn them in. And if you know that you need extra help, there are services out there like using a review writer at Omnipapers. Believe me, putting in a little extra effort like this will make a world of difference in your grades.
...And two things new grads shouldn't do:
5.Don't study about how to: job hunt/resume/network/interview.
One of the classes that I teach is interviewing. We not only talk about how to excel at employment interviews, but also what makes a good resume, how to network, and how to do a job hunt. I even bring in business leaders in the community to do guest lectures and mock interviews so they can give the students feedback. But not everyone is lucky enough to take an interviewing class. Because of that, they are left on their own to discover how to break into the real world effectively. Without these skills, the chances of landing a good, solid job after graduation definitely lessens.
6.Don't study the "greats" -- successful people who have gone before them.
There are many successful people who have founded and develop companies that you can learn from if you study what they have done. From Donald Trump to Amin Khoury, there are so many success stories. I know that many recent college graduates feel overwhelmed and confused about how to make their mark on this world. And while studying the greats doesn't mean you have to do exactly what they did, you can at least come away with some sort of advice -- especially about your mindset. So don't ever underestimate the value of learning from those who have come before you.
I hope these do's and don'ts have helped you -- whether you are a new college student, a parent, or a new college grad. While I could have given many more tricks of the trade, this is definitely a good start.