Comments on: Graduate School: It’s not about the grades. http://studentbranding.com/graduate-school-its-not-about-the-grades/ The Student Branding Blog is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. This blog, with the support of experienced college career counselors and recent graduates, will help students capitalize on their own unique abilities. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:35:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Allie http://studentbranding.com/graduate-school-its-not-about-the-grades/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Allie Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:34:43 +0000 http://studentbranding.com/?p=1155#comment-48 I couldnt agree more, and have gradually come to realize this over the first two months of my grad program. Immersing yourself in the discussions and hands on experiences Grad School programs offer are far and beyond more beneficial than being able to memorize mind numbing statistics and definitions for exams. I truly believe that individuals that are most successful post Grad School are the ones that were able to master the hidden concepts that weren't on exams or powerpoints. I couldnt agree more, and have gradually come to realize this over the first two months of my grad program.
Immersing yourself in the discussions and hands on experiences Grad School programs offer are far and beyond more beneficial than being able to memorize mind numbing statistics and definitions for exams.
I truly believe that individuals that are most successful post Grad School are the ones that were able to master the hidden concepts that weren’t on exams or powerpoints.

]]> By: Daniel http://studentbranding.com/graduate-school-its-not-about-the-grades/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Daniel Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:45:34 +0000 http://studentbranding.com/?p=1155#comment-47 This is 100% true. I finished an MBA recently and so many students get caught up in grades. Granted, there are a few fields where graduate level grades matter...for example, I have heard that top consulting companies only want students with top grades. That said - for everyone else grades should not be the focus. There is no correlation between grades and intelligence in my mind. High grades don't mean you can network or work a room, present ideas to management or even get things done. Professors can tell who in class is bright based on discussion and in many cases don't expect you to knock everything you do out of the park, so don't expect a prof to write a glowing recco because you have a 90 percent mark. My advice: if you're getting over 90 percent you are not networking or hustling for a job hard enough. Those people who focus on getting hired are the ones who get jobs. People who focus on getting good grades get nowhere. No employer or potential employer I have ever met with has asked me about grades. Never. On the other hand, I will acknowledge that many students come from backgrounds where marks weren't just everything, they were the only thing. Most grad level students are 26 or older and I just think that it's hard to re-wire yourself in the middle of a stressful degree. I don't think that schools should really "coach" students on how to do this... it's one of the many lessons you need to learn along the way for yourself... as are many of the best skills you pick up with when you do something like an MBA. This is 100% true. I finished an MBA recently and so many students get caught up in grades. Granted, there are a few fields where graduate level grades matter…for example, I have heard that top consulting companies only want students with top grades.

That said – for everyone else grades should not be the focus. There is no correlation between grades and intelligence in my mind. High grades don’t mean you can network or work a room, present ideas to management or even get things done.

Professors can tell who in class is bright based on discussion and in many cases don’t expect you to knock everything you do out of the park, so don’t expect a prof to write a glowing recco because you have a 90 percent mark. My advice: if you’re getting over 90 percent you are not networking or hustling for a job hard enough. Those people who focus on getting hired are the ones who get jobs. People who focus on getting good grades get nowhere. No employer or potential employer I have ever met with has asked me about grades. Never.

On the other hand, I will acknowledge that many students come from backgrounds where marks weren’t just everything, they were the only thing. Most grad level students are 26 or older and I just think that it’s hard to re-wire yourself in the middle of a stressful degree. I don’t think that schools should really “coach” students on how to do this… it’s one of the many lessons you need to learn along the way for yourself… as are many of the best skills you pick up with when you do something like an MBA.

]]> By: Katie http://studentbranding.com/graduate-school-its-not-about-the-grades/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Katie Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:06:03 +0000 http://studentbranding.com/?p=1155#comment-46 Great point of view. And with that level of passion and excitement about your chosen field, as well as a heart-felt devotion to learning, the grades will take care of themselves to some extent. Great point of view. And with that level of passion and excitement about your chosen field, as well as a heart-felt devotion to learning, the grades will take care of themselves to some extent.

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