Comments on: Guide To Kicking Butt In Your Toughest Courses

By: Yuko

Yuko — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:27:26 +0000

Hi there, I just wanted to say thank you for your truly wonderful blog! I just started reading your blog regularly a few weeks ago and am constantly surprised to see how bright, insightful, and to-the-point you are. It’s greatly appreciated. Many bloggers ramble unnecessarily, and I can actually get through and derive great value from yours! Thanks so much. While the stuff in this post is all stuff I basically know, it is helpful to see it written out like this from someone else’s (successful) perspective.

By: Doctor S

Doctor S — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:43:03 +0000

I think the biggest thing in doing well in any class (whether it is hard or easy) is being a pro-active student. You have to treat college as an investment in yourself and it took me a few years after graduating to understand the concept. You do not realize the money you have to pay back until the bills are coming in 6 months after graduating.

Many look at college as being a fun time and then relax on the books, which is exactly what I did. While I am happy where I am now, I do regret doing better in college, regardless of whether the class was hard or not.

They key to doing well in any class is simple: Go there and pay attention. If you understand the concepts in class, you will pick up the material when working on it outside of class. Hindsight is always 20/20 and 3.5 years later it continues to become even clearer.

By: philip

philip — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:55:54 +0000

These comments are quickly bringing back memories. My first couple semesters before things went downhill, I would try to sit on the first couple of rows in the classes. Unfortunatly having a professor that is so boring that he makes you fall asleep even on the front row does not impress them very much!

By: FFB

FFB — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:46:34 +0000

Great advice on sitting in front. I got to class a little late one day and sat towards the back. Not only was it harder to hear the professor but I had to deal with all the whisperings of the students in the back. Another benefit of sitting in the front is the professor sees you every class. Come grade time the professor may remember that you were there up front paying attention the entire semester. Sometimes showing up can help your grade.

Also ask questions in class. A professor told our class that when you ask questions you are molding the course to your needs. Also, professors love participation (usually).

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:10:40 +0000

Ok MD, but Stud sounds better! Good point, but just making a point for those still in college or just starting out.

I was a F student, so there’s hope for us all!

By: Studenomist

Studenomist — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:16:00 +0000

Fair point. I’m not saying that you should strive for B’s but what if you get a B here and there? No point to try to make some one feel like shit because they have a weakness. I always try to get A’s but stuff happens. How did you fare in college?

Lol you can call me MD instead of stud.

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:00:16 +0000

Hi Stud – Yes, grades alone don’t cut it, but high grades will never limit you, it will only open doors.

Anybody who says grades don’t matter, or don’t help one get ahead probably didn’t get good grades

Why NOT try as hard as possible to get good grades, so you can get a chance to interview at Google? Don’t know why people limit themselves and settle for B’s. Only got one chance guys! You can’t redo college.

By: Studenomist

Studenomist — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:47:10 +0000

Thanks for the great insights! Time to share mine.

I wish I applied these tips to more of courses. Unfortunately I have only applied it to my most difficult courses.

As for college grades. I honestly think it all depends on what you plan on doing post-graduation. Not all of us want to work for Google. Some of us want to take the acquired knowledge and venture off on our own.

I do believe that the job landscape has become so competitive that you do need to earn higher grades. With that being said it is also important to have some good experience and amazing networking skills. I believe that you will go a lot further with decent grades and amazing networking skills than you would with just really high grades.

What do you guys think?

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:30:08 +0000

Ah Philip, but I’m talking about just ONE grade! For a whole year, we got what… 10 courses, or 10 grades? Every B you get instead of an A COULD be $100K (who knows for sure, just an example), so that’s $1million your first year. After 4 years, let’s say that $4million. Divide $4mil by a 40 year career, that’s $100,000 a year.

Trust me, a B student isn’t joining McKinsey, Bain, BCG or getting into Harvard Law School….. if they wanted to.. so it is meaningful.

You’re right though.. forget $100,000…. let’s talk about $1,000,000 lost for every B instead of A folks get!

The goal is to bash the concept in early, so students don’t mess up their lives starting freshmen year. But, the flip side is, they might have had a GREAT time during those 4 years! Whoo hoo!

By: philip

philip — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:16:32 +0000

Not to be completely contrary, but $100,000 over a life time of work is really not that much. I would hope that if I got a 4.0 or even 3.5 that it would get me more than $100,000 in 30-40 years of work versus my 2.8 that I got.

However, I know that where I got my job we all got the same starting salary and after that your previous job means far far more than your college GPA. I think choosing your major and career means way more than a high GPA.

I should have worked harder at times and not changes degrees but by changing degrees and taking 2 extra YEARS of college I came out with a job that started probably 20,000 per year higher, add that difference up over a career and it is well worth it.