Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

evw — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:53:23 GMT

I believe this to be true- my brother is a financial analyst who has been invited to functions by Warren Buffet as well as recommended by him to heads of corpotations and headhunted for some of the top financial establishements in the world and NEVER graduated from an institution of higher learning- he does however have a huge library at home and is financially succesful as well as published for his opinions.

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

americanicon — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 06:45:44 GMT

The secondary education system in most states are corrupt to the core. The higher education system is not far behind. It is interesting, enlightening, and sad to see the bureaucrats, politicians, and the unions fight so hard to keep the status quo. For who,,, the children? What happened to the technical high schools that taught the trades? If you are going into a hard science, it should start at the high school level. What is it with this push to send everyone to college? The only thing we're ending up with is college educated idiots. In my field (behavioral science), we have found (unfortunately), that the higher educated a person is the less they use their common sense. A high, medium, or low GPA means whatever you want it to mean. I think its importance depends on the field, but as a consumer how the hell would i know what the pilot's, doctor's, lawyer's, accountant's,etc., GPA is. I would hope and have no option but to trust that their employer has done their due diligence and hope i don't lose life or limb finding out for certain.

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

MickoZ — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:28:03 GMT

I have been able to get straight A+ without studying very "hard" (i.e. not 60-80 hours a week for sure) most of the time, and I am of course an exception if I look around.

I also value to "work smart" rather than "work hard" (unless needed). However it is hard to apply this mentality when the system/people around you is not set to "work smart" and that is one of my main problem since "working". I have an hard time to apply my "work smart" habits and have an hard time to explain them (since I probably applied this "naturally"). Even thought that frustrates me, that is a problem I have to solve (I guess a "smart way").

All that said, I probably did not slept much, etc. -- but I took the free time generated by my "smart" habits to party, do sports, etc. (however if I slept late... I probably took it back the day after since I had the time to do so)

As for the grade, it depends. While they don't tell everything about someone (e.g. a smart person can get low grade or someone not that smart can still achieve high grade) --- they still often are a good indicator.

However, how to really evaluate people is not easy (at school or in the work life). People often don't REALLY have a clue if someone is really better than the other (even thought often, people understanding what you do can see who are good, medium or bad). If I apply what I say to the health topic, people don't always know if their doctor is a D- or an A+. The D- doctor might appears more confident than the A+, etc. and the D- doctor might give dangerous advices with more authority, etc.

If most doctors were doing it a "smart way" (e.g. took their time, asked the question to their patient, etc.) instead of developing bad habits (e.g. rush it, only check the symptom, etc.), it will be more efficient and generate less problems.

I also believe that a lot of A+ Doctor (see smart Doctors) are not having A+ results in their work because of bad habits caused by the system.

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

AZhiker — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:15:43 GMT

When my husband got his BA, he did get a job without his GPA being considered, however his starting pay rate was determined by his college GPA. It was a tiny bit painful for him years laster to see a younger employee making more than he had when that age.

I earned much better grades than he did and 15 years later he was making almost twice what I made. I always wanted to change the world and help people through my job but he was practical and wanted to get paid well for his time and effort.

Also, anyone that wants to get into a good graduate program will have to schmooze AND get good grades!!

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

dragonwoman — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 23:17:33 GMT

Well a lot depends on the area of work you want to go into. Some corporations won't even look at you if you don't graduate from one of their top-10 preferred colleges, unless they can't fill the job from those candidates, then you might get looked at. A lot has changed with all the out-sourcing that is being done these days, and a college education can be very expensive so it's best to weight your options and do your homework BEFORE you choose your additional education path.

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

Cinnabar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:24:34 GMT

I'm 6 months from my science degree and think that internships and involvement are more important than straight A's. When I am applying for jobs in my field, I find that an extensive resume with a variety of organizations and letters of recommendations are what they mainly look at. Staying fairly well above a 3.0 is also important, but if you have to decide between having a 4.0 or a resume, I say choose the latter.

I used to work with an ornithologist on research, and she told me that a lot of students have a huge amount of debt when they get out of school, but they can't get a job, so they go back to graduate school. She said it is a good idea to wait until you have enough experience and contacts to have some sort of offer from a company or the school. If you should be in grad school, you should be able to go without paying an arm and a leg.

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

jayp — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:40:06 GMT

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. Education – compulsory schooling, compulsory learning – is a tyranny and a crime against the human mind and spirit. Let all those escape it who can, any way they can. -John Holt

The public school system: "Usually a twelve year sentence of mind control. Crushing creativity, smashing individualism, encouraging collectivism and compromise, destroying the exercise of intellectual inquiry, twisting it instead into meek subservience to authority." -Walter Karp

"nothing that is worth knowing can be taught"

"Information is not knowledge. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." - Albert Einstein

I can only say that when I was a student my biggest quarell was why we were all so completely uninformed about current world issues and events, the government and constitution and other actually and possibly life altering subjects.I am still uninformed and so is much of young America and that might be why we end up with presidents that lead to the rest of the world loathing this country in its entirety. Its like not knowing is supporting becasue there are no means to do otherwise.Also, why everybodies pursuit in life became financial stability baffles me its like selling your soul for that degree in turn for the all mighty dollar.To much money for to many general classes.I moved on it wasn't for me "to each his own" I went to a trade school which allowed you to recieve a degree but i chose not to.I worked 7 days a week had two jobs and went to school 6 days.Thats alot for someone who regardless of my responsibilities makes it a point to enjoy life and leisure time with fun.I partied like a maniac and still took care of things bc that was my will.Being true to oneself is my understanding of ultimate success Ima woman w/no degree n it dsnt handicapp me i make wut i wrk 4 n still learn new things.Is it worth it? EVERYDAY

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

stepka — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:58:48 GMT

"On the other hand, if you want to get a job and make as much money as possible, then good grades aren’t going to help you as your teachers and parents might have you believe. You’re better making powerful friends, building a killer résumé, and generally having the time of your life on your parent’s dime."

I was nodding in agreement until I got to the summary. What a brat. I won't be having my kids read this.

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

xtina8o4 — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:50:25 GMT

I feel like it's necessary to discriminate which path the student is choosing once they graduate college. For most, straight A's in place of a healthy social life is certainly a waste of time. For others, those pursuing graduate school, med school, or law school, straight A's are virtually a necessity. However, I think it's also illogical to assume that straight A's REQUIRES precluding a social life.

I'm currently going into my last semester of undergrad and plan to continue into graduate school for health and/or biopsychology. I have a cumulative 3.77 GPA; a 3.74 in my psychology major and sociology minor, and a 4.0 in my biology minor. For admittance into a decent graduate program, these grades are virtually a necessity. Graduate programs are highly competitive, and while other students may have learned just as much as I have by receiving a 3.0, it's the unfortunate reality that schools rarely, if ever, consider this. It's not to say that GPA alone makes or breaks your chances at admittance, but it is certainly VERY important. School's may not continue to read over your transcript, or give that much though to your letters of reccommendation, when other students have GPA's significantly higher than yours.

Further, I am certainly not a social outcast. By any means, in any way. I have a very large group of good friends; about 10-15 girls, and 10-15 boys. Within that group some people are understandably closer than others, and I feel lucky to say that I have 5 very close friends with whom I share a loving and true friendship. I know how to properly divide my time between studying and recreation, and it's actually rather simple: the week days are for studying and the weekends are for parties. (And these are only my friends at school; I'm still lucky enough to have my group of high school friends)

It IS possible to get straight A's AND have a social life, and if straight A's are important to furthering your education, they are certainly not a waste of time.

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

stevefo — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:19:24 GMT

I think the key is that you have to have guidance. Professional parents help. Good advisors in school help. Career counselors help. Having a plan before or shortly after starting school helps. Having work experience in a field your getting your degree in helps, especially if you're "older" and going back to school. I worked at Lexmark and tried to write code without a software degree after dropping out of UK's electrical engineering program. Found out if you want respect and a decent salary above $40,000 you have to get a degree in software. Went to RIT and finished a Masters in Software Development and Management and got a 26% salary increase on my next job. It helped, but school caused me to take $40,000 in loans. The salary helps, but paying the loans off is not fast.

Moral: no direction and focus at a younger age. Didn't have professional parents so I didn't get help with the importance of school and choosing a degree/field. Ended up switching majors in undergrad at least 4 times, went to four different schools and it took me at least 8 years to get that first BS degree.

You must know if there are jobs in the field for which you are going to school. Getting a general degree can help, but specialized fields are better because there are defined jobs there that typically pay better. Money is a major factor. Find a field you're interested in, one you'll have passion for, and with the salary that will support your lifestyle. The only issue is that many poor kids like myself out there have no idea what lifestyle is all about until they start making some money and start a family. It's tough to get by, especially if you're spouse is not working or is not making a lot of money. You have to talk to some people about life and how their salary impacts that because it's the major driver in what kind of job you get. That information is critical at a young age. Being unhappy with salary is not a pleasant thing. Supporting a family is harder than you'd ever think.

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

DeoVolenti — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:36:16 GMT

Mark Twain said it best, "I never let school interfere with my education."

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

stoic — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:25:50 GMT

why is it that current comments here do not transfer into the current comments section of the database? or that nothing that I have posted lately is shown in the posts compendium on my bio page? what is the point of having 2 different groups conversing as opposed to everyone being able to see all the posts via the current comments section?

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

tequilaguy — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:11:02 GMT

My favorite quote, Mark Twain....Never let schooling get in the way of your education. As for smclark7, what are you doing later...if you're a gal that is?

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

Jonathan B — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:16:07 GMT

I was a classic obsessive-compulsive in high school and college, and spent a lot of time in studies, but I soon realized that I did not have the desire for grades alone, but wanted a life.

I decided instead to seek the middle ground, studying enough to pull a 3.5 in high school and in undergraduate school, and a 3.9 in my Masters program.

I managed to do this, with my limited intellectual skills, by trying to work the system, whenever possible, in my favor.

First, I refused to go for the Honors programs in high schools, where the intellectually advanced smashed their skills against each other, with grades no different than my own, since their genius efforts were wasted on a grading curve.

Since I had no interest, money, or desire to be in the Ivy League or the upper schools, I assumed that staying in regular high school classes, and shooting for a state college in Oklahoma would give me the college degree I needed without 100 K of school debt, and terminal nerditus, from studing myself into ill health.

When I got into college, I took classwork that advanced my degree, or which I found personally interesting, but avoided classwork that would "challenge me and expand my horizons", i.e. require endless homework and study to keep up with a demanding prodessor.

If I blew it, and got in the wrong class, I had no problem with dropping classes, and changing my schedule, because usually the educationally abusive professors woul let their nature be known in the first two days of classes, with reading lists and textbooks that would blow their students minds.

I also dropped classes if I hit a professors who took a dislike to me, since that was a certain fail grade.

The results of my efforts was a school experience with decent grades, good social memories, and a maintained sanity.

re: Why it Doesn't Pay to Get Straight A's in College

Yod — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 19:57:45 GMT

When I went to a prestigious university, I was astounded at some professors arbitrary grading system. Then again, some of them were right on and wrote very comprehensive narrative evaluations. I considered most of it a sham, as students were competing for high grades rather than actually learning something valuable.