Reply to Grinders and strivers and curators, oh my!

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[quote=Anonymous]I asked ChatGPT about these terms in the context of college admissions, and whether the connotations were negative or positive. ChatGPT may be wrong about a lot of things, but when it comes to language use, it is clearly a better arbiter than any of us since it’s trained on so many examples. Here is what it said, which suggests that sometimes they're positive and sometimes they're negative, and so both sides of this debate are a little bit correct. It's usually positive when describing kids from less affluent backgrounds, trying to improve their situation in life. It's usually negative in the context of competitive, affluent schools and communities.
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In college admissions discussions, “striver” and “grinder” are related but not identical terms. Both refer to students who work very hard, but they carry different social and cultural connotations.

Striver
A striver is someone who is highly ambitious and actively trying to improve their situation, achieve goals, or move upward.

Positive connotations:
* Motivated
* Determined
* Resilient
* Values education and achievement
* Overcomes obstacles

Negative connotations:
* Can imply excessive status-seeking
* May be seen as calculating or image-conscious
* Sometimes suggests someone trying “too hard” to impress others

In admissions discourse, “striver” is often somewhat ambiguous. An admissions officer might admire a student who is striving despite limited opportunities. On the other hand, among affluent, highly competitive communities, “striver” can be used critically to describe students who accumulate activities primarily for college admissions.

Examples:
* “She’s a striver who taught herself advanced science because her school didn’t offer it.” (positive)
* “The school is full of strivers chasing Ivy League admissions.” (mixed to negative)

Grinder
A grinder is someone who succeeds primarily through persistence, discipline, and sustained effort rather than obvious natural talent.

Positive connotations:
* Hardworking
* Reliable
* Disciplined
* Doesn’t give up

Negative connotations:
* May imply lack of creativity or originality
* Can suggest someone who wins through sheer volume of work
* Sometimes contrasted with “genius” or “naturally gifted”

In highly selective admissions circles, “grinder” often has a slightly more negative connotation than “striver.” It can imply a student who is checking every box, studying constantly, and maximizing credentials, but who may not have a distinctive intellectual spark.

Examples:
* “He wasn’t the most talented math student, but he was a grinder.” (mostly positive)
* “Harvard gets thousands of grinders with perfect scores.” (somewhat dismissive)[/quote]

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