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62 3. Do ask questions. Most professors find student questions immensely helpful, and they’ll tend to appreciate students willing to ask them. 4. Avoid diction inappropriate to the academic environment. Remember that “vulgar” means “common, uneducated.” Using vulgarities (especially in writing) creates the impression that you’re not a very good student. 5. Remain attentive until the professor finishes class. Professors (and other students) find it very disturbing when a student starts putting his/her notes and books away before class is over—especially if they have spent 49 minutes building their lecture toward its exciting climax only to have their dramatic point spoiled by student rudeness. 6. When convenient, take multiple classes from a professor. Professors regard it as a compliment when you take a second class from them, and, if you like them, they’ll like you. More important, the more courses you take from a professor, the easier they get. Familiarity with the professor’s teaching style and testing style can be a great advantage. 7. Appearance sometimes counts. When I was in high school, I carried a briefcase and almost always wore a tie. Much as I hate to admit it, my good grades (I was the class valedictorian) were in part the result of my creating a good impression: I looked like the studious type, and my teachers assumed I was. Now I long ago gave up the “dress for success” strategy, and, as you probably notice, I’m casual to the point of being sloppy. I suspect, however, that there might still be some advantage for students in being a bit more conscientious about their appearance than I am. Would wearing business attire would help your grades? It’s certainly possible. It’s also possible that some style choices have a potentially negative effect. I’d think twice before adopting the nose rings, tongue rings, eyebrow rings, and tattoos that are so popular with many of your peers. The best strategy, I think, is to avoid the extremes. Dressing much more formally than your peers might be socially isolating, and you probably want to avoid that. But in trying to make a positive impression on your professors, you probably want to stay on the conservative side of contemporary fashion. Marmorstein giving fashion advice? Pretty strange, I’ll admit, and I’m not at all sure what I say above will be of much help at all. But as to the next two items, I can speak with confidence. These are important! 8. Never cheat. Academic dishonesty comes close to being the unpardonable sin as far as professors are concerned, and most professors won’t give you second chances. Get caught cheating and you fail.