<p>We all know that intelligence has little to do with grades, so what makes a 4.0 student successful?</p>
<p>Here's my list, but I want some 4.0 students to answer too.</p>
<p>Study habits: The most important is not procrastinating. You should look forward (as much as possible) to studying or doing any assignment as soon as possible.</p>
<p>When studying history from your text book, for exapmle, don't wait until the exam is announced, or even worse, scheduled the next day. Study that material whenever you can, never cram (never slightly cram either). The brain can only absorb so much information at a time, so spread the material out. Also, take an interest in the material. Discuss it with people, have dabates over it, so there will be enough context for the brain to store it in long-term memory.</p>
<p>Be active and involved in class. Join the discussions. By doing so, you'll remember the material much better and faster than you would from just reading it.</p>
<p>Enjoying what you do is often a helpful motivator for studying. Go to office hours. If you have time, try to tackle problems not just from the problem sets. Go to class, and make sure you actually follow everything that the professor is saying. </p>
<p>
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We all know that intelligence has little to do with grades
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</p>
<p>That really depends. If you're in a major like mathematics, physics, engineering, etc, grades are largely a reflection of intelligence. Study habits and work ethic are still important, but your intelligence/intuition is in some ways a limiting factor.</p>
<p>In left brain classes: Do the problem sets, go to office hours for stuff you don't understand, extra practice always helps</p>
<p>In right brain classes: Don't be close minded. Take in everybody's viewpoints, be critical when you have to, but don't go in with your ideas already set (If that is the case, why take the class?)</p>
<p>Hmm, I was in "military intelligence" for 3 years, and yes, you have to score so high on a portion of the ASVAB to get in that... but there were some dumb guys there! But apparently "military intelligence" is an oxymoron. </p>
<p>This one guy thought that Earth is the only planet with gravity.</p>
<p>one quarter I got a 4.0. that quarter I didn't have much of a social or extracurricular life, needless to say. i spent a lot of time perfecting papers, and becoming best pals with professors and TAs. not something i'm dying to repeat despite the 4.0</p>
<p>course selection is a big part of it. You probably won't have much say in which courses you take freshman and sophomore year as you'll have to take prereqs and fulfill requirements, but after that you'll have more freedom and more flexibility. You'll get better grades if what you're learning is stimulating and interesting to you.</p>
<p>I'm sorry but I don't agree with your quote "We all know that intelligence has little to do with grades, so what makes a 4.0 student successful?".</p>
<ol>
<li> Unless you're dying or trapped underneath building rubble, go to EVERY class, pay attention and take good notes.</li>
<li> Do the work -- read what you're supposed to read, do the problem sets, write the papers, complete the lab reports.</li>
<li> Don't procrastinate -- time management is key.</li>
<li> Make good course outlines as you go and review them at least weekly.<br></li>
<li> If a professor offers review sessions, go to them, even if you're doing well in the class.</li>
<li> If a professor offers opportunities for extra credit, avail yourself of them, even if you're doing well in class.</li>
<li> If the professor makes old exams available for practice, take them and use them to determine the subject areas that you need to work on.</li>
<li> If you're having difficulty in a class, get help EARLY. Don't put it off.<br></li>
<li> If you're not doing well in a class and have done everything that you can do to improve your grade, consider dropping the class if it won't be reflected in your GPA (best option) or withdrawing from the class (not as good an option, but still better than taking a bad grade).<br></li>
<li> Don't cram -- it's no substitute for steps 1-9.</li>
</ol>
<p>Sorry, but saying "grades have little to do with GPA" is liking saying talent has little to do with making the NBA! Of course intelligence plays into the equation! The correlation has been repeatedly shown to be quite strong (in a positive direction). Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't ways to maximize your own potential. Basically, go to every class, do the work, study what will be on the test (that's one place where intelligence comes in -- here, it represents the ability to look at a large body of information and accurately predict what is likely to be tested), learn the information the first time (in class -- cognitive abilities again), avoid procrastination when possible, etc.</p>
<p>My answers (4.0 so far, we'll see if it stays that way...)</p>
<p>1) Cramming. Many pan it, but it works much better, or at least has for me. </p>
<p>2) Staying inside one's comfort zone. I know I'm not a math/science guy. So that means outside of the lower level gen eds I need to take, I avoid those areas. Won't be relevant for my career, and won't help my GPA.</p>
<p>3) Avoid taking courses with those known to be unfair graders. This can usually be discovered via RateMyProf. Do note though that this is not synonymous with a course being difficult or having a heavy workload. Either of those things are fine, and should not prove a problem so long as you are competent and will to work as needed. But there are always a few loonies whose grading is chaotic and can threaten your GPA.</p>
<p>But most of all...</p>
<p>4) Don't worry about the 4.0. Try to do "well" and hope that translates to a 4.0. Obsession about the numbers will hurt your sanity without having much in the way of benefit to it.</p>
<p>Ratemyprofessors is unreliable, especially for gen ed courses. If students aren't interested in the subject or just aren't good in it, this will then contribute mostly to their not doing well in class. I had some professors who were rated poorly and I did great because I applied myself.</p>