4 Ways to Handle Negative Feedback Well and Become a Better Student

You turned in a paper that you are certain is going to get you a top grade.

When it comes back though, it’s all marked up and that top grade you expected ends up being a bottom of the barrel grade in reality. Along with the paper comes a bunch of feedback, and most of it is not good.

It’s human nature to respond to negative feedback with negative emotions. We tend to shy away from criticism and avoid negative feedback as much as possible. That’s unfortunate and unnecessary though, as with most things in life, struggles make you better. And people who know how to handle negative feedback turn out to have more success in their education, their careers, and their self-esteem.

But to be able to properly handle negative feedback and become a better student, you need to understand a few things.

1. Understand it’s not personal

First and foremost, you must understand that negative feedback and constructive criticism of your work is not meant as a personal attack. Your ability to use the negative feedback to get better at anything is highly dependent on your view of the feedback. If you view criticism and negative feedback as an attack on your character, you will have a hard time moving past the personal side of things.

If, on the other hand, you can take the criticism and see it as a piece of information that will help you improve, you start to see the value in it. Once you see the value, you can then take your emotion out of the situation and focus on using the feedback to improve as a student.

2. Ask questions

Ask questions of your professors to help understand where you may be struggling. Always ask open-ended questions (questions that cannot be answered by “yes” or “no”) because these types of questions lead to deeper insights.

You must try to understand what the concerns are. Ask questions like:

• What is the primary concern I should address?

• How should I go about my studies?

• Can you show examples of what you are looking for? (This is especially helpful when it comes to essay/written assignments.)

Write down the answers you receive and review them later on so you can evaluate them.

3. Analyze the feedback

Now that you understand feedback isn’t personal, you can start to look for valuable information to help you become a better student.

After you’ve met with your professors, you must now analyze the conversations, and pay attention to facts. If you have performed poorly on a paper, review the errors. These are pieces of information that you can address as you re-write the paper, or when writing the next one. Other parts of the conversation may be less important, and these can be set aside for now so you can focus on the task at hand. Work on correcting the most pressing issues, and that will give you the biggest wins.

4. Seek out others for help (especially peers) 

Studying together can help you learn

Now that you have analyzed the negative feedback, seek out help from those that are equipped to help you improve. This could mean asking if your professor has some extra time to stay and explain things to you or seeking out a tutor to assist you.

Another method that students can use is partnering up with a peer. Seek out others in the class who are doing well and ask if they would be willing to help you out or maybe even form a study group. Oftentimes they have insights into the subject that professors who have been teaching for a long time tend to overlook. By using this partnering process to collaborate and learn more, you may find that you are strong in some areas while your classmate excels in others. You can also seek out digital help to help make your study habits easier and more effective.

Remember to Use Negative Feedback Wisely 

Negative feedback and criticism can be much more than uncomfortable discussions. If you can understand it’s not a personal attack and there are ways to use the feedback to your advantage, then you can use the feedback to improve your education and become a better student. Learning to accept criticism and apply the feedback you receive will take you wherever you aim to go.

How have you handled feedback and criticism before? What tips would you offer your fellow students? Share them in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!