I did well as a student. I tutored other students and I was hired by the university to teach companion workshops for Discrete Mathematics and Data Structures classes. I graduated Magna cum Laude with a BS in Computer Science. Note that my comments are biased toward math and computer science courses.
My experience shows that the best way to be an A student is to be an A student from the get-go.
What I'm saying is you have to do things in the right order. First get comfortable with the fundamentals. Anyone can master the basics -- it's skimping on them that's the problem.
It comes down to compound interest.
If your goal is the minimum passing grade (as it is for many students) and you start to exceed that grade, what happens? A lot of people feel relieved and slack off just a little. You don't need to worry anymore, right? You're going to pass.
But next time it'll be a little bit harder, because a C, say, is only 70% of what you're expected to know.
And harder.
Eventually it's all you can do to get through the class.
I've seen this too many times. I've worked with many great people who believed they didn't have what it took when their biggest problem was that they didn't fully understand concepts from previous classes. Discrete Math students are nearly always shaky on basic algebra, for example. It's not their brain that's the problem.
Don't take short-cuts on your understanding. Go the extra mile all the time. Make a habit of it so the compound interest works in your favor.
Then classes get easier.
And easier.
Eventually the highest grade you can get is not an A, but the feeling that you did such a good job you couldn't do any better. Then it's time to sharpen the saw on something else. The A's come too, of course. =) But they're only worth anything in a rare class.
If the world made any sense it'd be harder to be a great student than a poor one, but it's the other way around. It's much harder and more stressful to be a struggling student. Excellence does take time, though.
"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago.
"The second best time is now."
Plant that tree now. It's worth it!
Some assorted points:
* A study group can motivate you when nothing else will. There's nothing like the expectations of other people to get your butt in motion. The more frequent the meetings the better. There will be times when a fresh viewpoint is exactly what you need.
* Teaching is the best way to learn. Absolutely -- no contest. If you're in a study group, be the one at the whiteboard leading. You will be forced to pay attention to all the misconceptions and questions your fellow students have. If you can explain something two or three different ways to someone who is struggling, and they finally get it, you probably understand it well. If you don't know, then say you don't know, and work as a group until you understand it or can make no further progress. You may need to come back when you understand more.
* Sam988 is right. Pay attention. Understand. Make connections.
* You aren't trying to find the "right answer." You aren't trying to memorize formulas. You are trying to understand why the process you use to find the right answer works. Don't be the guy in back frantically copying down what all the 'smart people' write on the board.
* Homework assignments are the minimum you should do. Keep at it until you are confident you have it down pat.
* Addict and Woody Allen are right: showing up is almost the whole battle. Turn in all your coursework. But here I would also define showing up as understanding each new thing that comes along.
* Studying is only useful if you're in a bad position. It may get you through the test, but it won't help you later because you'll probably forget it all. Playing is much more effective and will make new connections in your mind no textbook can, and much better ones. I've found studying a pretty useless skill. Learn things right the first time.
* If you take notes, don't write things down word-for-word. Use your own wording to solidify things in your mind. Then toss them in your binder and never look at them again. Don't take notes if it causes you to zone out on the meaning behind what the lecturer is saying.
* Reserve 15~30 minutes before any test to do nothing but relax. Don't think about anything class- or test-related. A walk before class might help.
* Learning is fun. I'm not kidding. If it's not fun you're not doing it right. I'm not saying it won't be a challenge sometimes, but if you are frustrated you probably don't have all the tools. If you are bored you are probably not involved enough (talk about tautological...). You might not be thinking about it the right way. I used to hate history, but I found out recently that I've been thinking about it all wrong. It has nothing to do with dry dates and stuff that happened vaguely before I was born, and everything to do with context and relationships between different things. Now I read history for fun.
* "Always be happy with your progress, but never be satisfied." If you aren't happy with your progress, you will become depressed. If you are satisfied, you have no reason to improve. If nothing else, be happy with your decision to improve.
* You don't have to ask questions in class to do well, but you do need to develop an inquiring mind. If something doesn't make sense, pounce on it!
* "What if?", "I wonder...", and "Why not?" are great friends.
* Take delight in proving yourself right when you're right and wrong when you're wrong. Sometimes it's worth doing something wrong just to check those assumptions...
* Procrastination probably won't kill you, but that doesn't mean it's good.
* Between you and me, teachers aren't always right. Ph.D's especially. Never point this out.
* Brilliant professors are rare and to be sought after and appreciated. Tough professors are gems in their own right. But an unfair professor is intolerable!
What I said above is what makes me a successful student:
Excel at the small stuff and you'll come to excel at the big stuff.
"'Good enough' is not good enough."
Also, sometimes those that talk the most know the least. I'm writing this in part for myself, examining what has worked for me in the past and seeing how much of it I can apply to my current situation.
-- Daniel
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