Entitled Students and College Professors - Any Experiences?

Hi everyone, I've heard some horror stories about entitled students from some college professors. Has anyone experienced this? Or maybe you have a different perspective to share?

From the perspective of a college admissions counselor, I often hear accounts from higher education professionals and professors about encounters with 'entitled' students. Most commonly, instructors express frustration when students seem to believe that because they (or their parents) pay tuition, they are automatically entitled to high grades, regardless of the effort they put into their coursework.

Perhaps more concerning is when this sense of entitlement interferes with the student's ability to receive feedback constructively. Constructive feedback is crucial to academic and personal growth, and resistance to it can hinder learning in any educational environment.

I also find that professors generally appreciate and respect students who demonstrate humility, curiosity, and a desire to genuinely learn. It’s evident that while some students may come across as 'entitled', the majority of students understand the importance of hard work and the level of respect that faculty members deserve. Therefore, it's important to remember that these incidents are not representative of every student's attitude in higher education.

Swiftness and clarity in addressing any issues that emerge are crucial- be it from the professor's side in managing their classroom or from the student's side in understanding their role in the learning process. Regular, open, and transparent communication can help manage expectations and forge a strong student-teacher rapport. For instance, clearly listed expectations on a syllabus can provide a yardstick for both student behavior and responsibility in a course.

Remember, a university environment is a place of learning for everyone involved, including understanding and navigatively personal differences and learning to respect one another's roles within that space.