Prioritizing Time vs. Grades: The Impact on Academic and Career Success

[Lavabug]

Which is more important in the long run? In particular, for academic jobs? I'm a sophomore physics student in Spain (set on emigrating upon graduation for gradschool/whatever is necessary for the career path I want, as prospects look grim in and out of academia in my country).

I've gone through 2 career changes and lost 1 whole academic year so I'm now at a 4-year age disadvantage compared to my classmates.

About a month from finals (and 1st semester recup exams, which I have to take, as I did horribly, my background was weak and I needed tons of ground work), I'm struck with a dilemma. My uni allows 3 examination attempts per academic year. I think I can get a fairly good grades on a small handful of courses as I've had more preparation time but others I'm not so sure, so I have the option of postponing some exams til' July or November, or giving it them the best whack I can at the moment and settling for whatever low grade I may get in some courses.

What worries me is the possibility of not passing the exam later down the line and having to repeat the course (and likely losing my grant), so I really need to pass my courses, but at the same time I don't want a crap grades either because I fear its going to really harm me in the long run. I'm a in a tight spot and really don't know what I should do.

Should finishing my degree asap take the highest priority? Or should I risk tacking on another year as an undergraduate to get the best grades I possibly can? Some profs are even discouraging students from finishing in the established 4 years (formerly 5 in my country), though I'm not sure it applies to me considering I've already lost 4 years.

All in all I love the learning experience but I fear I'm going to need to cut back on "enjoying physics" and working more on scraping by just to maintain my grant.

 

[twofish-quant]

Which is more important in the long run? In particular, for academic jobs?

1) Don't do physics with the expectation of becoming a research professor.

2) Getting it done well is better than getting it done quickly. Graduate schools care a lot more about your grades than they do that you got your degree done quickly.

3) The above assumes the US. Different countries have different systems so there may be an issue there that isn't obvious to me.

 

[Lavabug]

1) Don't do physics with the expectation of becoming a research professor.

2) Getting it done well is better than getting it done quickly. Graduate schools care a lot more about your grades than they do that you got your degree done quickly.

3) The above assumes the US. Different countries have different systems so there may be an issue there that isn't obvious to me.

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I'm not "expecting" to become one, I'm relatively aware its a huge sacrifice and a hugely ambitious goal but I really want to try it, I don't think I have a romanticized view of the profession. My mind open to a few other paths as well.

Any other thoughts?

 

[ks_physicist]

I went the "get the degree done" route instead of the "retake a class or two and boost your GPA" route.

I regret that...would have been better off taking an extra semester or year as an undergrad to boost that GPA. Sad truth is that the undergrad GPA still comes up even ten+ years out of college, even with subsequent graduate degrees.

 

[SbF5]

I think most employers or grad schools want to see an upward trend in academic accomplishment. If you grades drop at the end of a degree, you are going to look suspect; there isn't an award for being fast.