10 Quiet Habits of Successful Students—Spotted by Instructors Everywhere

[MarisaBluestone]

Some students walk into class already ahead. And we’re not talking about their SAT scores. Success in college isn’t about being the smartest person in the room, it’s about knowing how to navigate it. They’re the ones who manage their time, ask for help, and keep showing up. Turns out, success leaves a trail, and these students are already laying it down by week three.

In this episode of The What and Who of EDU, we asked ten instructors what their most successful students have in common. From showing up early to asking for help loudly, here are the real-world behaviors that quietly predict student success—and how you can encourage more of them in your own classroom.

Be sure to check out the full podcast episode "10 Things Successful Students Do Differently, According to the People Who Grade Them" on Apple or Spotify to hear all the tips. 

1. Preview the Menu

The most successful students don’t just show up, they show up ready. They’ve scanned the syllabus, scoped out the class structure, and already know what they need to ask.

“My most successful students are extremely organized. When I arrive 15 minutes before class, they’re already waiting outside. They’ve read the syllabus and come prepared with clarifying questions—not ones that are already answered. I compare it to going to a restaurant: they’ve read the menu ahead of time, they know what they want, and they’re not wasting time being indecisive.” —Dr. Eric Chiang, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Why it works: Preparation creates presence with purpose. When students preview expectations before the first day, they use class time more effectively, reduce confusion, and start forming habits of proactive engagement..

2. Manage Your Time Like Your Mom Is Watching

When students leave the structure of high school, many mistakenly assume fewer classes mean more free time. That illusion can sink a semester fast unless they learn to plan ahead.

“High schoolers come in thinking, ‘Oh, I only have class twice a week,’ and that means they only need to do homework two nights a week. And that is a big thing that destroys them. So those who can manage their time well, honestly, that’s the number one thing.” —Julie Moore, Eastern University

Why it works: Time management isn’t just about calendars and checklists. It’s about controlling your environment so it doesn’t control you. When students map out their week, they free up mental bandwidth, reduce stress, and create room for flexibility when life happens.

3. Study Like You Brush Your Teeth

Forget cramming. The students who do well aren’t pulling all-nighters, they’re building small, repeatable habits.

“I give them that five-day-a-week schedule so I can take a complicated subject—like calculus—and break it into tiny little bite-sized pieces. Students that hear me and believe me and say, ‘Sure, I’ll give it 30 minutes a day and work 10 problems a day,’ never feel overwhelmed. They never get behind.” —Dr. Amy Goodman, Baylor University

Why it works: Consistency beats intensity. Just like brushing your teeth, short, regular sessions build academic hygiene and prevent buildup of both cognitive load and panic. When students study daily, they stay curious, confident, and way ahead of the last-minute scramble.

4. Know Thyself

Copying someone else’s study method doesn’t always work. The most successful students are the ones who reflect on what actually helps them learn.

“I’ve reached out to students who were quite successful in the course and asked them, ‘Hey, what worked for you?’ It ends up being quite varied—different strategies for different students. So I would attribute success to students who know what works best for themselves.”  —Dr. Charlotte de Araujo, York University

Why it works: Metacognition matters. When students figure out their learning style, whether that means attending peer mentoring, asking questions anonymously, or leading a study group, they take ownership of their education and reduce unnecessary struggle.

5. Ask for Help

Some students think asking for help means they’ve failed. The successful ones know it’s just a smart strategy.

“You have to learn to ask for help. If you get a note from financial aid that says you're kicked out of your classes because you didn’t pay, don’t wait. Call me. Call someone else. Don’t settle for a door being shut in your face. Practice asking for help in this class, because you're going to need that skill the rest of your life.” —Mary Gourley, Gaston College

Why it works: Help-seeking is a sign of self-awareness, not weakness. Students who know when and how to reach out stay in motion, even when they hit barriers. 

6. Believe You Can Grow

Struggling isn’t failing, it’s part of the process. Successful students don’t just push through setbacks. They see them as part of how learning works.

“One of the most important factors in student success is making sure they have a growth mindset. That’s the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. You view challenges as opportunities to grow and learn rather than obstacles to overcome.” —Dr. Erika Martinez, University of South Florida

Why it works: When students adopt a growth mindset, they stop avoiding difficulty and start engaging with it. That shift builds resilience, increases motivation, and keeps them from quitting too early, especially in tough, foundational courses.

7. Stay Curious

Curiosity isn’t just a personality trait—it’s a success strategy. The students who go deeper, ask weird questions, and follow the tangents often end up learning the most.

“Students that are inherently curious and asking questions that are tangentially related to the topic, or always trying to go a little bit deeper… they are, without a doubt, the most successful students.”
—Dr. Derek Harmon, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why it works: Intrinsic motivation drives engagement. When students are genuinely interested in the “why,” they retain more, ask better questions, and make broader connections. Curiosity keeps them learning long after the test is over.

8. Practice Until It’s Automatic

You don’t master a skill by understanding it once, you master it by doing it over and over until it becomes second nature. Repetition builds rhythm, and rhythm builds confidence. 

“There’s really no substitute for seat time and repetitions. I was a swimmer when I was growing up, and I remember how often we practiced flip turns… swimming to the wall and pushing off, over and over. Students will be successful if they do enough problems to get a chance to do that.” —Dr. Mike May, Saint Louis University

Why it works: Whether it’s math problems or presentations, successful students practice until the process becomes automatic—freeing up mental space to focus on nuance, not just basics.

9. Learn the Story, Not Just the Answers

Memorization might get you through a quiz. But true understanding comes from connecting the dots and successful students know how to zoom out and see the big picture.

“You can’t just come to class every day, take notes, and then study the weekend before. You’re not going to get all the points. I force them to learn every day—with clicker questions, group activities, homework assignments. The students that actually incorporate the material into themselves, instead of just memorizing it, are the ones that succeed.” —Dr. Jennifer Ripley Stueckle, West Virginia University

Why it works: Learning is cumulative. When students engage with material throughout the semester, they aren’t just prepping for a test—they’re building a framework they can use again and again. And when finals come around, they’re not scrambling—they’re connecting.

10. Level Up ... On Purpose

Some students don’t just complete the assignment—they challenge it. They go beyond what’s comfortable and take creative risks that lead to real growth.

“I notice that successful students challenge themselves with the assignment. They don’t go with something they’re comfortable with—they’ll try something new. And they get excited about it. They go to the next level in their critical thinking or creativity. And they’re often the leaders in the class.” —Adriana Bryant, Lone Star College–Kingwood

Why it works: Academic risk-taking builds confidence and creativity. Students who stretch themselves not only develop deeper thinking skills—they also become classroom leaders, modeling initiative and inspiring others to raise the bar.

Some students just get it. Not because they’re naturally gifted, but because they’ve built habits that make learning work for them. From reading the syllabus before Day 1 to asking better questions, their success doesn’t come from luck—it comes from intention.

Want more students to follow their lead? Start by showing them what those habits look like. Then, give them space to try, adjust, and try again. That’s where success begins—not with a cheat code, but with real strategy, reflection, and a few reps

🎧 Want to hear it all in action? Listen to the full episode → on Apple or Spotify

Have a tip? Leave us a voicemail at (512) 765-4688 and you might just hear yourself on a future episode