Make sure to control your ego. It might very well backfire. Think of your prof somewhat as a boss. Good relations with a prof will make it much easier for you to ask for guidance, hints and possibly extensions - when you really, really need to. Also, it will be easier for you to tell him "hey, this assignment is totally crazy" if you respect each other. Being smart, studying hard and networking wisely is most of the game, but making sure your prof doesn't hate you is also part of the game.