Teaching professional Diana Menzel understands the temptations many university students face as they enter a completely new lifestyle, as well as how these temptations can often interfere with the student’s ability to successfully pursue and accomplish their academic objectives. As one who possesses two Bachelor degrees, has been elected to an Education Honor Society and earned a cumulative 3.5 GPA during her tenure at William Paterson College, Diana Menzel has considerable experience when it comes to facing the challenges of a college-level education, as well as what behaviors students should adhere in order to be successful.

Below, Menzel shares several important behaviors every college student should consider as they prepare to make their mark in the world of academia.

Scheduling

Perhaps the most obvious aspect of effective organization, scheduling makes all the difference between academic achievement and downright failure. It’s important, as Diana Menzel knows, to have the self-discipline necessary to create and follow a comprehensive schedule, one that keeps you up to date and aware of all activities, classes and other obligations you have over the course of a semester; a constant reminder of where you need to be and when you need to be there.

Challenge Yourself

One way to impress professors, and to accomplish more than you may have ever thought possible, is by constantly going that extra mile to challenge yourself, whether that be through more thorough research on a topic, digging deeper in an assigned paper, etc. Be an active thinker while you read, seek out more information on an assignment, and do whatever you can to discover and learn as much as possible whenever the opportunity presents itself. As Diana Menzel knows, the chances are good that may even surprise yourself.

Accept Feedback

It’s often too easy to become defensive when one receives feedback on an assignment, paper, test, etc. Approach feedback from a different perspective, says Diana Menzel. Take feedback as information rather than criticism, and take the time to think about what the professor or fellow student was trying to say, and how it could be helpful in the future. Be willing to learn from the feedback you receive, and to make it work for you in the future.