I recently read an article in The New York Times calling out people like me. People who work to see their GPAs sing "Aaaaa" and who expect the best of themselves.
Let me set some things straight before I dive in:
1- I am a college junior who has never received a grade lower than an A- in my college career.
2- I am a journalism major who would love to one day write for a paper as prestigious as The New York Times. I just think they got this opinion piece a little wrong.
3- I am admittedly awful at writing opinion pieces and research papers and I would consider this a mixture of both.
So anyway, Adam Grant told his readers that he was once someone like me. He wanted the good grades, too. He believed the As would allow him to advance in his school and career and wanted to see these grades do the work for him, or so it seems.
Grant also mentioned that the students that do receive these grades are lacking in the places that matter.
Maybe I am a miracle. Maybe I stand out. But, my current GPA is a 3.947, I received all As or A+s my sophomore year and I am on track to earning another 4.0 this semester. And I have friends and a social life.
You may be thinking right now about my previous blog post in which I revealed that I am still on the look for more friends- you're right. But, this lack of a tight social group has nothing to do with how many hours I spend working on papers or studying for exams.
I can confirm that I am a part of my fair share of clubs, I write for our student newspaper, and I will never miss a home football game. Prime example- I could have earned 40 extra credit points in my hardest class this semester if I would have given up one game, but I would not give up on my Husker football tradition of staying until the clocks hit 0:00.
I was also told when I accepted my Resident Assistant job that I would more than likely see my GPA drop. I am a stubborn individual who enjoys proving people wrong, so I studied just a little harder, talked to my professors and rose my GPA my first year on the job.
Grant said that students like me are good at "cramming information and regurgitating it on exams" and I will admit I do this. Actually, I would like to add that to my resume. As a future journalist, I hope my editors will see how good I am at memorizing information and retelling it in a new way. I think that's a lot of what my job will be.
However, if all we had to do was cram and regurgitate information, wouldn't more people have straight As?
From what I have seen at UNL so far, for those of us with the grades Grant is calling out, cramming doesn't work.
I have found that the people who pull the most all-nighters, you know- missing out on their social life because they're in the study room all night long- receive lower grades. Actually, I am not the only one who sees this.
Psychology Today reported that students who have a healthier sleep schedule tend to be those individuals with better performance in school.
Doing well in school is also beneficial to one's mental health. Sure, in high school it can crush us, but once a routine is found, it is possible to earn a 4.0 without mental breakdowns every three days.
When a student earns a good grade, it contributes positively to their self-confidence, optimism and self-efficacy. All of these things are positively related to enhanced well-being which contributes to a longer, happier life (source- EDPS 320: Positive Psychology). This could, in fact, give you more time to join another club or volunteer when you're older.
Grant also said that students who receive all As require conformity.
I am biased and I come from an education in the journalism department, but I think Grant's idea is outdated.
More often than not, when I am graded it is based on my ability to apply a concept and create something new. To conform is to fail.
For example, last year I took a multimedia journalism class with a final project that needed to be completed with only an iPad and a laptop for typing. The project was to contain elements of audio, video, a story and a multimedia graphic of some type.
That was all we were told. Not only was there no feasible way to conform to anything but if I would have, it would not have been rewarded. My class was taught by Pulitzer Prize winner Matt Waite. He earned the prestigious award by being a leader in the creation of PolitiFact- if you know politics you've heard of it at least once or twice.
I'm telling you this because professors are no longer just old men in suit coats that want to be told back what they've told you. Professors like Waite look forward to grading projects because they want to be inspired by what their students have thought of- at least the students that might receive an A.
This might sound intimidating, and trust me it was, but Waite told us he would reward failure if it meant we tried something new. This concept has been shared throughout my college and it is something that both freaks me out and excites me.
I am not always the most creative person in the room and I actually enjoy conformity. But, like this whole essay has told you, I also like to see As on my transcript. So, I must push my box open a little wider.
Pushing this box is also what I had to do to get my foot in the college's door anyway.
Grant made getting all As sound like something that could be earned through giving up any type of social life and studying at all hours of the day. It's not like that.
I have seen it happen for myself and many others that becoming a name and face your professors know is to your benefit if you're looking for As.
I am the girl everyone hates in class because I speak up. I am the girl in class everyone hates because I sit in the front and still have separate notebooks for my different classes. I am the girl everyone hates in class because even if I don't answer the question out loud I know it or write it down.
I am the girl in class everyone hates because I make sure my professor knows my name.
To get As, I will admit you might have to give up on half an hour of your social life to meet with your professor during office hours, but I can promise it will be worth it.
I will even admit that you may want to join a club your professor advises because they will get to know you as a person outside of the classroom. This can help them write a better letter of recommendation one day for scholarships or future endeavors. Plus, if you like their class, the club will also most likely interest you and you can find out what else that professor teaches.
This dispells Grant's argument that straight-A students take the easier classes for the grade they know they will receive.
I can willingly admit I have taken a class in college I knew would be easy, however, I also found enjoyment in the concepts and would have taken it despite the ease of an A. Theatre 112 is known for being an easy A at UNL, but it also allowed me to see three plays for free and I enjoy theatre, so I cannot complain. It was the best of both worlds.
I was not, however, "in my comfort zone" as Grant suggests. I attended more than one uncomfortable play and learned from those experiences. I believe Grant was making a shallow point and it could quickly be dissolved.
So students, work for that A in your classes. It will take work and prioritization but it will pay off when you feel more confident in yourself. Increasing your self-efficacy will grow your willingness to try more difficult things and conquer them as well. Admit it, like your ACT scores in high school, you only remember your GPA if it's really good or really bad.
Come on, nerds, let's get those As we know we deserve and show Grant what's up. Plus, you've read this far in a junior in college's blog she wrote during Finals Week, you must be half decent at studying anyway.
