GPA and the Greats: Grades of High Achievers

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between academic grades and high achievements, particularly among notable figures such as Nobel Prize winners. While there is a presumed correlation between high grades and success, participants argue that grades reflect classroom performance rather than research capabilities. The conversation highlights that factors like performance anxiety and the nature of academic assessments complicate the direct link between grades and true talent. Ultimately, the consensus suggests that while grades can indicate understanding, they do not fully encapsulate an individual's potential for groundbreaking work.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of academic grading systems
  • Familiarity with the profiles of notable scientists like Einstein, Witten, and Feynman
  • Knowledge of research methodologies in scientific fields
  • Awareness of psychological factors affecting academic performance, such as performance anxiety
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the grading histories of notable scientists and their academic records
  • Explore studies on the correlation between grades and research success
  • Investigate the impact of performance anxiety on academic outcomes
  • Examine alternative assessment methods in education that measure research capabilities
USEFUL FOR

Students, educators, psychologists, and anyone interested in the dynamics between academic performance and scientific achievement.

riccitensor
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I was curious, about the relation of grades to high achievments. It's safe to assume, that most Nobel Prize winners for instance had rather high grades. Does anyone know if there has been studies of grades of high achievers?

More in particular, where can one find the grades of Einstein, Witten, Feynman and similar people?
 
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Grades record how well you did in classes. You don't get graded on your research, and research is what defines a good scientist. So while great scientists had to do well enough to get through grad school, the two skills sets - doing well in classes and doing well in research - aren't really that closely related. Plenty of people can succeed at one and suck at the other.
 
If the system works correctly, a grade is assigned to your level of understanding of the material. I would surmise a strong correlation between high grades and high achievements.
 
aspiring_one said:
If the system works correctly, a grade is assigned to your level of understanding of the material. I would surmise a strong correlation between high grades and high achievements.

Not necessarily. One that happens is that if you work harder for an A instead of a B, you end up with less time to study things that aren't assigned in the curriculum.
 
twofish-quant said:
Not necessarily. One that happens is that if you work harder for an A instead of a B, you end up with less time to study things that aren't assigned in the curriculum.

True. There should be some form of correlation, that is to say that people with very low grades usually aren't that good. But e.g. difference between 4.0 and below isn't related to talent. These people usually are good at studying, not at a special subject in itself.

Besides there are additional factors to consider, e.g. performance anxiety during exams, which hinders the flow. This is why most instititutions think of the grades more to "get an idea" of what the student is capable of.
 
I think a discussion of what other people might have gotten for grades is pointless speculation. I also suspect that, since grades are not public, this discussion will not be able to transition to one based on facts instead of speculation.
 

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