My favorite.... signed up for a 10 day IFR training program. Instructor arrives to work 45 min late everyday, calls off 2 days out of the 10, Sleeps on the job. Relies on other instructors to teach me the right maneuvers. Sleeps while putting Jeppesen instructional videos. yea.... my favorite instructors at USFA in Denton....

Recommend getting an instructor who is strictly there to teach or who has a passion for his function even if he is time building(aren't we all?). Who even in a bad situation can relieve the pressure, but be able to correct and tell you why something is the way it is. Someone who will teach to stay alive. Can't tell you how many newbie solo students have gotten themselves into trouble from CFIs who failed to teach them how to not get lost or how to get out of an unusual attitude.

Ask questions never leave doubts unanswered, might be a question that could mean the difference between fuel starvation to flying into IMC without wanting to as a student pilot.

Ask, listen, apply!