BTW, your postmortem article actually got me out of a weeks depression about 2 exams (organic chem and bio chem) I BOMBED hardcore not because I didn’t study (I studied a lot for those exams), It’s because I didn’t study the way my prof was testing.

Thanks for all the help, Spencer Martens.

This is my first post at your blog, however I have been reading your articles for the past 8 months.

Bill, I look forward to hearing more from you. Thanks for the Wooden reference, that might become an important part of my repertoire!

So, is going for extra credit in a class worth it if the GPA doesn’t even matter?
How can I just enjoy my classes without all the GPA-driven pressure I put on myself?

Forget your G.P.A. In each class, focus on perfecting your mechanics (how you take notes; how you review; how your write papers) with the goal of minimizing the time while maximizing understanding. For each test, aim to do really well without the need for cramming. If a test goes bad, perform a post-mortem to figure out why, then adjust your tactics for the next go around. Avoid, however, your particular G.P.A. number. It will come along just fine if you’re tackling your courses in this manner.

Sorry to be baraging you with questions, but any of your academic wisdom would be greatly appreciated!!

What about engineers?

I don’t claim that your G.P.A. doesn’t matter. I claim that you shouldn’t pay attention to it. If you instead focus on each test as a separate challenge, you’ll do just as well but with less stress.

It sounds like what you need is some advice on how to be a better student. A good starting place is the “Popular Articles” sidebar on this blog…

I’d love to follow that philosophy. In fact, I did last year. I’m working on my B.S. in mechanical engineering and have a 2.8 GPA. The reason I know this is because when I talked to the employer-of-my-dreams at a career fair, they seemed pretty much set to ask me for an interview… until they asked about my GPA.

Turns out they, like the overwhelming majority of employers looking to hire engineers, have a minimum GPA requirement, usually of 3.0 or higher.

I know 2.8 isn’t spectacular, but at Cornell University – which has one of the most demanding courseloads of any engineering school and where all grades are CURVED- it’s not something I haven’t worked for. I’m definately not the kid from Hong Kong who has no social life and has pretty much taken every class before and is just repeating it to get a great GPA.

And I feel like I’ve been killing myself this semester to get a GPA above a 3.0, because what else can I do? If I want to work for GE when I graduate, and no matter how enthusiastic they are about me they won’t look at me because my GPA is below standard, what’s a girl to do?

Any wisdom or advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!!!

[...] Recommended Reading: Ignore Your G.P.A. [...]

[...] Ignore Your G.P.A. This Unconventional Scholar essay tackles the larger question of what significance exam performance should play in your life. It’s core message: ignore your cumulative G.P.A. Instead, view each courses as an individual challenge to come up with the most efficient possible method for learning the material. Sometimes you’ll screw up the actual exam. That’s okay. Believe in your strategies and keep improving; it’ll save you a fortune on ulcer medication. [...]