Advice to Students from CMU Professors

Story and graphic by: Breanna Prince

As students prepare for midterms, many students begin to stress to make sure they succeed in their classes. 

Professors have been in the students’ shoes when preparing for midterms or getting homework done in general. Now that they aren’t students anymore, and the ones grading the students work, what advice would they give students trying to do well in college?

Breanna Prince spoke to Jeffrey Sauger, photojournalism professor, Kris Sanford, photography professor, and Zulfia Zaher, associate professor to talk about what they wished students knew when studying at college.

What do you wish students knew before coming to college?

Sauger: “How to manage time better. I always used to keep a list every night before I went to bed. My list was called shit to do, and I would just write down everything I had to do the next day. Now, we’ve got an iCalendar. That’s how I organize my family. We put on events. I got one for my son, one for my daughter, one for the family. I put reminders one week in advance, the day before, 30 minutes before. That really helps a lot.” 

Sanford: “I wished students knew the amount of work involved with being a college student, and I hope they come prepared, and I hope they come prepared for that level of work than what you experience in a high school classroom.” 

Zaher: “I wish students understood the importance of self-management. College offers freedom, but with that comes the need to manage time effectively, set priorities, and hold themselves accountable. I also wish students knew that it’s okay to not have everything figured out. College is a journey of growth so embrace it, and remember, everyone is learning as they go.”

What are some study tips you suggest?

Sauger: “Well, when I was a student, we didn’t have the internet. We had dictionaries and thesauruses so we didn’t have as bad of attention problems as everybody has now, even us adults that came up that way, I realized that if I tried to do homework in bed, I fell asleep. So it’s a learned behavior to go to sleep in your bed or your bedroom. I know many students have their desk in their bedroom, but try to have a separate space for you to do work where you do sleep.”

Sanford: “Honestly, when I was a student, I would often, before an exam, recopy my notes and reorganize them to hit on and highlight the key points. So the act of writing is another way of processing information. So in class, I would take really sloppy notes, and then when it came time to study, I would reorganize those notes and make them nice and clean, and it helped me organize what was important from the class.”

Zaher: “Find what works for you. I always encourage students to break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. This approach can help prevent procrastination and reduce the overwhelming feeling of large assignments. Consistency is crucial, so creating a study schedule and sticking to it will make a difference. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help early on, whether it’s through tutoring services, study groups, or faculty support.”

How can students succeed in college?

Sauger: “Know that you need personal time. You just need that brain break. You need a proper amount of sleep. You need proper nutrition. If you’re not eating, you can’t keep long hours.  Recognize your learned behaviors that you already have and that you’re developing.”

Sanford: “Be passionate and excited as much as possible about what you’re studying, about in the class.  Even if it’s a required class, try to find some angle that interests you or some aspect of the class, even if it’s something you weren’t excited about at first. And in terms of success, be careful with the amount of extracurricular activities that one takes on. Sometimes students can take on too many things outside of their classes, and then it can really not distract but become too much of a burden in their schedule. So be careful about those.”

Zaher: “To truly succeed in college, students must prioritize active engagement, both in and out of the classroom. This means diving into the material, asking thoughtful questions, participating in discussions, and applying what you learn to real-world situations. These practices not only deepen understanding but also improve long-term retention. However, I always remind students that learning extends beyond the classroom. It’s the entire college experience that shapes who you will become. Beyond academics, it’s essential to immerse yourself in extracurricular activities, internships, campus events, social gatherings, and even informal conversations. These experiences foster personal growth, build valuable skills, and expand your network, all of which contribute to your development in ways that academic work alone cannot.”

What are the most common mistakes you see students making? How can they improve on those mistakes?

Sauger: “Procrastinating, waiting too long to get going on projects that are going to take more than one day or a week is really difficult. Current generation students have been raised on smart swipe devices, so breaking those learned behaviors, put your phone away, pay attention, take notes, taking notes with paper and pencil commits it more to memory than devices, while it may be enjoyable to listen to a little music while you’re working, you’re not going to be as focused.”

Sanford: “Sometimes committing too much to work or committing to too many extracurricular activities, because you’re really learning time management in college, it’s kind of one of the first places where you’re in charge of your own schedule, and I know a lot a lot of folks do have to work part time job, but be careful that you don’t sacrifice your grades or your success in your classes by taking on too difficult of a workload or taking on too many extracurricular activities.”

Zaher: “One of the most common mistakes I observe is students underestimating the importance of time management. Too often, students procrastinate, waiting until the last minute to begin assignments or study for exams, which leads to unnecessary stress and, in some cases, missed deadlines. This stress could be easily avoided by planning ahead and dedicating even just a few minutes each day to consistent work. Another common pitfall is becoming overly focused on grades rather than prioritizing meaningful learning and intellectual exploration. While grades do matter, they are not as important as the depth of knowledge and critical thinking skills you build. The true value of college lies in what you carry with you in your mind, not just what shows up on your transcript.”

Why do you think going to office hours is important?

Sauger: “I typically don’t see students until a week or two before finals, when they finally start looking at their grades. So don’t wait till it’s too late. Most professors want to help you, and will help you. But if you don’t,if they haven’t seen you all semester, and then you show up two weeks before finals, hey, I think I’m failing. What can I do? It’s like, well, nothing, you know, if you’d have been coming throughout the semester, showing effort, showing motivation, being aware of where you are and knowing you need to do some extra work. I think most professors don’t want to fail people, you want students to succeed, so pay attention, pace yourself, keep up with the work. Sometimes just getting to know your professor or the professor gets to know you, and it helps them figure out what makes you tick, and maybe they figure out a better way to teach you, or, translate lessons or concepts.”

Sanford: “Well, I think there’s conversations that you can have with your faculty in office hours that just wouldn’t come up in a classroom. You can get more of their personal experience and one on one tips. It’s a little easier to get that in a one on one conversation. Think of your faculty as a valuable resource and use them as a resource. They’ve got all this lifetime of experience behind them, and that’s an opportunity for them to pass on some of these types of tips, one on one.”

Zaher: “Office hours are invaluable because they offer students personalized attention and support that simply isn’t possible during class time. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, clarify any uncertainties, and engage more deeply with the material. Beyond academic help, office hours also allow students to build relationships with their professors, which can open doors to mentorship, internships, and even future job references. Moreover, these one-on-one interactions provide insights into the professor’s expectations, giving students a clearer understanding of how to succeed in the course. My advice is to not wait until you’re struggling, make use of office hours early and often to stay on track and maximize your learning experience.”

What is one piece of advice you can give to students?

Sauger: “Don’t be as nervous or shy as I was when my parents left after dropping me off, and then my roommates came in, I kind of went into a little mini anxiety, and I went to bed, like that was my defense mechanism. Be open to meeting new people. Be open to new experiences. Be open to the diversity you know of America. Know that you may not necessarily get along with your roommates, and being younger, we’re much more ready to throw down right, intellectually or verbally, not physically.  Know that in 10 years, none of it’s really going to matter. You know, it’s a means to an end. Keep the goal in mind and try to let things roll off your back. Be a lot more easy going. I hold things in. I know I could have made certain parts of my life easier by not taking things so personally or being so detail or rule oriented, and that’s coming from someone who broke a lot of rules.”

Sanford: “Don’t neglect your physical health. Get a decent night’s sleep. Eat some decent food every once in a while, not just junk food. I know it’s hard to afford good stuff, but be careful that you’re taking care of your mental health and your physical well being because they’re very connected.”

Zaher: “One piece of advice I always give students is to discover and embrace your passion. Understand what makes you unique and how you stand out in a crowd. I truly believe that everyone has something special to offer. Your strength doesn’t have to be loud or immediately visible, but it’s there, waiting to be recognized. Focus on identifying that strength, no matter how subtle, and build on it. Once you tap into what drives and defines you, it will become the foundation for personal growth, confidence, and success.”

In the end, each student’s college experience is different, but the advice from these professors can be really helpful. From managing your time well and using office hours to balancing both academic and personal growth, succeeding in college is all about finding that balance and staying mindful. 

As midterms come around, it’s important to remember that college isn’t just about grades, it’s about learning and growing along the way. So, take a moment to relax, stay organized, and reach out for help when you need it. You don’t have to do this alone.