Better to make B's and C's than A's?

[Anonymous]

Networking and social skills are extremely important in many fields. I don’t think most of you would disagree with that. What most don’t want to accept is GPA means very little after the first internship, which can be made through connections. Companies don’t care about GPAs at all once the person has any real experience on a resume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's been said that the A students work for the B students, the C students run the businesses, and the D students dedicate the buildings.

Now, just to be clear, this adage clearly doesn't apply in fields like medicine, engineering and, to a large extent, law, all of which are highly GPA-driven. You won't make it into the door of any med school or halfway decent law school if most of your grades aren't A's.

But in business majors, I think there's some truth to the C-students-rule-the-world theory. Although exceptions abound, students who get 4.0's tend to be follow-the-rules, color-inside-the-lines types who spend college with their nose in a book, refusing to take risks or buck the system. These traits are invaluable to a surgeon or an airline pilot, but in the business world, they often lead to becoming a yes-man who never rises above middle management as opposed to a trailblazer who runs the show.

Another problem with A students is that many of them have been told their whole lives by well-meaning parents and teachers that grades are king and as long as they keep those up, doors will open for them. Again, that's true if your dream is to be a doctor, but for business-minded students, prioritizing grades over socializing and networking can set you on a path to mediocrity. Take two business majors, a 4.0 library shut-in and a 2.9 fraternity president and intramural team captain, and check on them a decade after graduation. My money is on the frat god having the more successful career.

So, what are everyone's thoughts? Is it possible we push kids to focus too much on grades, especially in fields where making top grades often comes at the expense of what actually matters for success?

uh, no one says that, no one. And I went to a T3 law school and have an MBA

[Anonymous]

Given that today, many companies do not hire below a minimum GPA, the 2.9 Frat boy would not get anywhere at a significatnt portion of companies in both the intership and regular hiring process. My business student said majority of companies that came to campus required a 3.0+, many had 3.3 and the "top ones" had 3.5+ minimum required.

2nd you can have a 4.0 and still know how to socialize and move up in the business world. Being smart does not preclude you from using your EQ (or even having a high EQ).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A students are the ones getting into elite colleges, not the C students.

Also, the vast majority of C students are average in everything, both academically and in other areas. One can be an A student and still be risk takers, and leaders.

But, if you want to follow the adage, go right on ahead. Gives my A/B student a better shot at a better college.

I think the OP means in college. Anyone can make A's in high school. Certainly A's and B's.

Well try getting an internship or hired full time with a 2.9GPA. Majority have at least a 3.0+ cutoff. So your kid better be good at networking, because it's going to take a lot of it to even get an interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Networking and social skills are extremely important in many fields. I don’t think most of you would disagree with that. What most don’t want to accept is GPA means very little after the first internship, which can be made through connections. Companies don’t care about GPAs at all once the person has any real experience on a resume.

But nowadays, to get that first internship or job, you need a decent GPA (or major connections). And even then, if a kid could only muster a 2.5 in a undergrad business degree, how much did they actually learn? You have to apply things you learned in college, you have to be able to understand the finances and how the company works. Networking can only get you so far without the smarts to support it.

[Anonymous]

This is a dumb phrase and I’m tired of seeing it show up on many threads as the parent of a kid who has learning difficulties. He struggles, gets lots of Cs, and we’re happy he’s even going to college. Being told he’s going to be a CEO someday by people trying to decide between Yale and Amherst is really annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's been said that the A students work for the B students, the C students run the businesses, and the D students dedicate the buildings.

Now, just to be clear, this adage clearly doesn't apply in fields like medicine, engineering and, to a large extent, law, all of which are highly GPA-driven. You won't make it into the door of any med school or halfway decent law school if most of your grades aren't A's.

But in business majors, I think there's some truth to the C-students-rule-the-world theory. Although exceptions abound, students who get 4.0's tend to be follow-the-rules, color-inside-the-lines types who spend college with their nose in a book, refusing to take risks or buck the system. These traits are invaluable to a surgeon or an airline pilot, but in the business world, they often lead to becoming a yes-man who never rises above middle management as opposed to a trailblazer who runs the show.

Another problem with A students is that many of them have been told their whole lives by well-meaning parents and teachers that grades are king and as long as they keep those up, doors will open for them. Again, that's true if your dream is to be a doctor, but for business-minded students, prioritizing grades over socializing and networking can set you on a path to mediocrity. Take two business majors, a 4.0 library shut-in and a 2.9 fraternity president and intramural team captain, and check on them a decade after graduation. My money is on the frat god having the more successful career.

So, what are everyone's thoughts? Is it possible we push kids to focus too much on grades, especially in fields where making top grades often comes at the expense of what actually matters for success?

Sorry I just don’t see this play out in real life. The C students don’t necessarily go to college, and if they do it’s a struggle and they are more likely to drop out or flunk out. They tend to have less focus.

From my experience, the A and B students tend to be goal-oriented and leadership-oriented. And leader doesn’t have to mean extroverted presidential type running everything, but simply being a SME and top performer in their area.

As a hiring manager at a F50 company, we don’t look at nor want the C students. Why should we? Why would we? Past performance is the best predictor we have for future performance, so we put our bets on the A/B students and grads that have proven they are high performers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's been said that the A students work for the B students, the C students run the businesses, and the D students dedicate the buildings.

Now, just to be clear, this adage clearly doesn't apply in fields like medicine, engineering and, to a large extent, law, all of which are highly GPA-driven. You won't make it into the door of any med school or halfway decent law school if most of your grades aren't A's.

But in business majors, I think there's some truth to the C-students-rule-the-world theory. Although exceptions abound, students who get 4.0's tend to be follow-the-rules, color-inside-the-lines types who spend college with their nose in a book, refusing to take risks or buck the system. These traits are invaluable to a surgeon or an airline pilot, but in the business world, they often lead to becoming a yes-man who never rises above middle management as opposed to a trailblazer who runs the show.

Another problem with A students is that many of them have been told their whole lives by well-meaning parents and teachers that grades are king and as long as they keep those up, doors will open for them. Again, that's true if your dream is to be a doctor, but for business-minded students, prioritizing grades over socializing and networking can set you on a path to mediocrity. Take two business majors, a 4.0 library shut-in and a 2.9 fraternity president and intramural team captain, and check on them a decade after graduation. My money is on the frat god having the more successful career.

So, what are everyone's thoughts? Is it possible we push kids to focus too much on grades, especially in fields where making top grades often comes at the expense of what actually matters for success?

OP my college kid is having a rough semester too. I sympathize with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's been said that the A students work for the B students, the C students run the businesses, and the D students dedicate the buildings.

Now, just to be clear, this adage clearly doesn't apply in fields like medicine, engineering and, to a large extent, law, all of which are highly GPA-driven. You won't make it into the door of any med school or halfway decent law school if most of your grades aren't A's.

But in business majors, I think there's some truth to the C-students-rule-the-world theory. Although exceptions abound, students who get 4.0's tend to be follow-the-rules, color-inside-the-lines types who spend college with their nose in a book, refusing to take risks or buck the system. These traits are invaluable to a surgeon or an airline pilot, but in the business world, they often lead to becoming a yes-man who never rises above middle management as opposed to a trailblazer who runs the show.

Another problem with A students is that many of them have been told their whole lives by well-meaning parents and teachers that grades are king and as long as they keep those up, doors will open for them. Again, that's true if your dream is to be a doctor, but for business-minded students, prioritizing grades over socializing and networking can set you on a path to mediocrity. Take two business majors, a 4.0 library shut-in and a 2.9 fraternity president and intramural team captain, and check on them a decade after graduation. My money is on the frat god having the more successful career.

So, what are everyone's thoughts? Is it possible we push kids to focus too much on grades, especially in fields where making top grades often comes at the expense of what actually matters for success?

Sorry I just don’t see this play out in real life. The C students don’t necessarily go to college, and if they do it’s a struggle and they are more likely to drop out or flunk out. They tend to have less focus.

From my experience, the A and B students tend to be goal-oriented and leadership-oriented. And leader doesn’t have to mean extroverted presidential type running everything, but simply being a SME and top performer in their area.

As a hiring manager at a F50 company, we don’t look at nor want the C students. Why should we? Why would we? Past performance is the best predictor we have for future performance, so we put our bets on the A/B students and grads that have proven they are high performers.

You are supporting OP's claim that A/B students are employees, and others are independent business founders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe a decade after graduation, who knows. But, try getting an internship during college with a 2.9 as a business major.

Mine had two internships with a GPA around 2.8 or so.

[Anonymous]

Nah OP. That was 1950s logic when only white, WASP men, were in the professional world ( Jewish men hired "their own". It was called a " gentleman's C" ( note the exclusion of women). Hopefully, you are trolling; otherwise, you are a terrible role model for your kid(s).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nah OP. That was 1950s logic when only white, WASP men, were in the professional world ( Jewish men hired "their own". It was called a " gentleman's C" ( note the exclusion of women). Hopefully, you are trolling; otherwise, you are a terrible role model for your kid(s).

Exactly!
I love how those white people are fantasizing that they still have the same white privilege in climbing the corporate ladder using the corrupt "network" and "connections".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nah OP. That was 1950s logic when only white, WASP men, were in the professional world ( Jewish men hired "their own". It was called a " gentleman's C" ( note the exclusion of women). Hopefully, you are trolling; otherwise, you are a terrible role model for your kid(s).

I don’t think she’s trolling. I think she just heard that her kid flunked an exam or two, and she is desperately rationalizing.

[Anonymous]

When hiring manager, we see enough fraternity presidents, crew captains, etc. with 4.0 so those are who we hire. B and C students of course do fine in the world and run some companies, but if going by resume, so many options of 4.0 students that do are tops not just in academics that we pick them every time and never need to look at anyone else but the top leaders/athletes with top grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's been said that the A students work for the B students, the C students run the businesses, and the D students dedicate the buildings.

Now, just to be clear, this adage clearly doesn't apply in fields like medicine, engineering and, to a large extent, law, all of which are highly GPA-driven. You won't make it into the door of any med school or halfway decent law school if most of your grades aren't A's.

But in business majors, I think there's some truth to the C-students-rule-the-world theory. Although exceptions abound, students who get 4.0's tend to be follow-the-rules, color-inside-the-lines types who spend college with their nose in a book, refusing to take risks or buck the system. These traits are invaluable to a surgeon or an airline pilot, but in the business world, they often lead to becoming a yes-man who never rises above middle management as opposed to a trailblazer who runs the show.

Another problem with A students is that many of them have been told their whole lives by well-meaning parents and teachers that grades are king and as long as they keep those up, doors will open for them. Again, that's true if your dream is to be a doctor, but for business-minded students, prioritizing grades over socializing and networking can set you on a path to mediocrity. Take two business majors, a 4.0 library shut-in and a 2.9 fraternity president and intramural team captain, and check on them a decade after graduation. My money is on the frat god having the more successful career.

So, what are everyone's thoughts? Is it possible we push kids to focus too much on grades, especially in fields where making top grades often comes at the expense of what actually matters for success?

Sorry I just don’t see this play out in real life. The C students don’t necessarily go to college, and if they do it’s a struggle and they are more likely to drop out or flunk out. They tend to have less focus.

From my experience, the A and B students tend to be goal-oriented and leadership-oriented. And leader doesn’t have to mean extroverted presidential type running everything, but simply being a SME and top performer in their area.

As a hiring manager at a F50 company, we don’t look at nor want the C students. Why should we? Why would we? Past performance is the best predictor we have for future performance, so we put our bets on the A/B students and grads that have proven they are high performers.

You are supporting OP's claim that A/B students are employees, and others are independent business founders.

No. You must have been that C student with those poor reading comprehension skills.

The C students that I personally know have ended up as tradesmen/women, police, firemen, teachers, LPNs, low-level office workers, sole proprietor landscape company owners, strippers, high school football coaches, truck drivers and bums. In other words they tend to end up in very average middle class jobs. There is nothing wrong with that, and yes there are exceptions.

But far and away, the A/B students had an entirely different trajectory in life than the C and D/F students I knew. And that goes for both high school and college.