I did all the exercises in the book, plus a load of PFLs, slips, different configuration approaches etc etc.. I was quite happy flying dual circuits with 15kt of xwind perfecting my crabs, low wing landings et al. I changed instructors quite a lot (inevitable really as they were all hour-builders and constantly vanishing to the airlines) and it was only when I got an older, more experienced guy that we did one circuit, then he stopped and said, "WTF am I doing here? I'm off for a brew, get on with it".
The first thing that strikes you when you go solo is the climb rate and the way it leaps off the runway. I learnt in a 152 and when I went off with half-fuel and 16st of instructor absent the VSI went almost off the clock and I was at circuit height before I'd even turned crosswind.