What's the Point in Getting Good Grades in Your Undergrad?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the value of obtaining good grades during undergraduate studies, particularly in the context of financial considerations for middle-class students. Participants explore the implications of grades on future employment, the purpose of college education, and the potential necessity of graduate school.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant argues that the financial return on a Bachelor's degree is questionable for middle-class individuals, suggesting that merely obtaining the degree may suffice without the need for high grades.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the primary goal of college should be to learn and develop critical thinking skills, rather than solely focusing on grades.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that while grades may not matter as much for graduate school admissions, they can still play a significant role in job prospects for Bachelor's degree holders, especially depending on the institution attended.
  • One participant asserts that understanding the subject matter is more important than grades, and that good grades will naturally follow from a solid understanding.
  • Another participant mentions the potential for scholarships tied to GPA, suggesting that maintaining good grades could alleviate financial burdens.
  • Some participants share personal experiences regarding the balance of work and study, indicating that managing both can be challenging but not impossible.
  • There is a discussion about the broader implications of pursuing a degree, with some arguing against obtaining a degree solely for the sake of having one, citing examples of individuals with degrees working in low-wage jobs.
  • One participant encourages taking risks to improve one's situation, sharing a personal family success story as motivation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the importance of grades, with some emphasizing the necessity of understanding the material over achieving high grades, while others highlight the potential impact of grades on future employment opportunities. There is no clear consensus on the value of good grades versus the degree itself.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the relevance of GPA may vary based on the field of study and the type of institution attended, indicating that context plays a significant role in the discussion.

  • #31
streeters said:
Really? I constantly read bios where they mention their degree class. I also see a lot of graduate programs that want 1st class degrees. Looks like we travel in different circles.

Can you provide examples of graduate programmes that require first class degrees?
 
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  • #32
Shaun_W said:
Can you provide examples of graduate programmes that require first class degrees?

ok, when I applied to Rolls Royce they only considered 1st class degrees due to a shrink in manufacture that year.
 
  • #33
Grades in bachelor's degrees do matter, but it's more like a cut-off than a sliding scale. The cut-off is 3.0-3.3, or perhaps 3.7 for IBanking or strategy consultancy or something.

And the OP has a point. Some people care about understanding the universe, but for the most part college is just a credential factory designed to get people generic office and retail jobs without making them better at performing those jobs.
 
  • #34
mdxyz said:
Some people care about understanding the universe, but for the most part college is just a credential factory designed to get people generic office and retail jobs without making them better at performing those jobs.

I fall under the former category (I care about learning) but I still agree with this. I had a math prof once that asked an entering class (mixed STEM fields) if they would bother going to/paying for college if it didn't help them get a decent job afterwards. They all answered no and the prof thought it was totally reasonable.
 
  • #35
I think a college education/degree serves different purposes (particularly in science):

1. To teach you facts and methods of solving problems.

2. To teach you/allow you to figure out how to learn on your own.

3. To certify to future employers/graduate schools that you have learned facts and methods of solving problems and are able to teach yourself more.

Grades are a part of number 3. I personally think they do a pretty good job of this.
 
  • #36
Just because your grades won't be looked at by future employers should not mean you shouldn't take pride in your grades. Don't you want to leave university knowing that you did your best? If all you care about is the degree then clearly the point of post-secondary education is lost on you. The point is to learn not just information but a good work ethic.
 

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