Grades vs Actuall Knowledge

[Antarctic]

Well, here in Australia, Grades don't really count for anything, atleast for what i want to do anyway.

Might be different in American but here you can go to "Tafe" (basically a hands on college) you don't need good grades, you don't need to have perfect A's like people say, you just have to show common sense on a test, and they will accept you.

What?! That's just your case, but for many thousands, grades do count. What industry would you like to go into? With TAFE, you won't get the best job out there, just a decent job, provided that job allows a TAFE credential, which many don't (you need a degree). With University, like ANU, you have a better chance of getting a higher pay and skilled job, generally speaking.

Depends on the profession. After all, a lot of Universities base their courses around theoretical work while TAFEs are more practical. For things like engineering, design and computers, employers would rather you be able to 'do' the work than read it.

Exactly. Many of the jobs i am looking for anyway don't need a Degree, and i have talked to people who did or do College, and say they have had trouble finding jobs as well, even if they do have a Uni Degree. I'd much rather be able to actually learn with a hands on experience rather than like fanta said lots of Uni's just get you to read and write, which really, you won't be learning anything (IMO anyway).

and I'm pretty sure it doesn't change the fact that if you go to TAFE you will get a lower paid job than someone that goes to Uni, it's all about experience at the end of that day. I'd personally, rather go to TAFE, do some hands on work, get a cert, find some lower paid work, get experience and move up, I'm not ready to jump into a full-time intense job anyway, because frankly, i won't have the experience, much like lots of the people that come out of Uni and think they will be able to get a job that week.

 

[David]

Ever consider a thing called a scholarship, set out by the Universities? That is real hands-on work for you.

 

[Antarctic]

You can do what you want to do and i will do what i want to do. I don't want to do a scholarship. I am happy with what i am doing, I'd much rather be at TAFE than doing a Uni course.

But if you want to do Uni, go for it, there's nothing stopping you.

 

[fantanoice]

This is why I go to a University of Technology. Get a University degree, all the University benefits (Industry-Based Learning, Study Abroad, etc) while doing practical work. OH YEEEAAAAAH.

 

[katy perry is hot]

I disagree with most of the posts in this thread. I believe studying and memorizing things is important. If you want to think that you can just not do anything in school and get C's and D's because you think it's not needed in the real world, I got news for you, it is needed in the real world. Not in the sense that you have to remember geometric proofs, the derivative chain rule, or how to balance chemical equations.. what you need in the real world is to show colleges that you can devote yourself to working hard, and that you challenge yourself, and that you can do something other than sitting at home on the computer. If they see all 95's in all your classes, they'll know you tried hard in school and that you have a sense of dedication and an ability to work hard to accomplish a task. In turn, after graduating from College, companies you apply to will see your 3.9 GPA and think "Wow, this guy kicked ass in College, he must have spent nights studying and put his work infront of social life and other things a lot!", and he'll get the job.
They are not by any means going to see the guy with a 1.7 GPA and say "Well, he must have spent his time on real world knowledge, so let's take him over the guy with the 3.9!"

Like I said, if you think you can skate through highschool with C's and D's and get into a good university, and get a good job (that is, if your definition of good is something above that of a hot dog vendor) then you're dreaming.

 

[Deleted member 1609]

If they see all 95's in all your classes, they'll know you tried hard in school and that you have a sense of dedication and an ability to work hard to accomplish a task.

There are also plenty of people who get good grades by cheating and memorizing for the test because our ridiculous American (I realize the redundancy of that statement since "ridiculous" and "American" are synonymous) system of education focuses on numbers more than knowledge.

 

[froggyboy604]

Grades are important as a way to know where your weak spots are if you earned them through honest hard work by actively learning the material which is being taught. By knowing your weak spots you can try to improve them, so you do better on future assignments. Grades are worthless in the long run if you cheated your way through school or don't know how to apply the knowledge in job related situations.

Great social skills are also good to have since managers and bosses tend to like to hire people who can "fit in" or are likeable and not awkward to work with because of being anti-social behavior.

Work experience and volunteering are also important for showing people you can finish work in a timely and proffessional manner.

Having a few good "letters of recommendations" and references from old bosses, internships, and Volunteer supervisors can go a long way for finding a job.

Putting a great portfolio of work you previously did can also make you stand out if you are looking for a creative job like 3D animation.

Your resume will be more impressive if you included a DVD with a creative short 3D movie video clip instead of just having a resume which states your Objective, Skills, education, references, certs, etc.

 

[Justin]

Grades count. You can't change that, everyone will look at them and use that to say how smart you are.

Knowledge is knowing the solution to a problem happening right before you.

 

[golfbunny]

I think there are many, many, many different types of intelligence, and these different types of intelligence will affect grades differently. Certain types of intelligence may lead to high grades while other types of intelligence may have no affect on grades, and still other types of intelligence may actually affect grades for the worse.

However, I also believe that someone who is bright on all fronts will have a tough time doing horribly in school. I have students who obviously despise the notion of school, hardly ever do homework the way it is supposed to be done (at home, without copying, with thought, et cetera), but somehow maintain a 98 average.

I also have students who I would never call brilliant but have 99.7 averages because they are that committed, that efficient, and I would call dedication and efficiency two other realms of intelligence.

This thread poses a modern philosophical question, and, as is true in the case of most philosophical questions, there are no right or wrong answers.

 

[cityStatic]

Both are important. If you don't have good grades but have real world knowledge, you will be able to get a job, but it won't pay a hell of a lot. If you have good grades and real world knowledge, you will be able to get a job that pays in moderate to ridiculously high range. However, good grades and no real world knowledge will probably get you fired from a job.

Post Scriptum (as we are talking in an education topic 😛): I love how the word "actual" is misspelled in the topic title.

 

[Bossanova]

I am very smart, honestly smarter than allot of people. I may not be smart with history or english, or any of that school crap, but I'm smart in other ways.