Basically, what's your attitude when it comes to taking school seriously? And don't say that you don't because if that was really true, you wouldn't be in school at all. No, even the lowest of bottom-feeders still have a shred of dignity to care about some aspect of the academic life that is making you stay whether or not that is grades.

Some of us aim high to get to good places. Some of us muddle because we don't care. Where do you stand and why?

Discuss.

My take on it is: At the end of all those grades, it doesn't really matter what letter/number you ended up with. The only thing remaining will be those thoughts about how you could've made it better but that subsides when you realize you're going to get a job anyway regardless and life begins anew over there.

This poll is to gauge just how much you 'care' about being on top. Is it your entire world right now or is your life's concern deviated towards other interests?

I'm happy as long as I pass ;)

I wouldn't say I care about being on top, but I'm ashamed of giving anything less than my best, or admitting I can't do something. This was most easily pointed out to me when my brother asked "Why the hell" I was in Calculus BC (2 math credits in college, as apposed to AB) when I was enrolled in more of a trade school for graphic arts, where I'd never even need to takes classes outside the year long course.

It's three years later, and I still don't have an answer to his question.

I was primarily As throughout school with a B mixed in on occasion, but even though grades were extremely important to me as an individual, the important thing truly is the understanding of the material.

My academic ambition changed when I went from highschool to uni. In highschool, it was about being the best. This wasn't hard considering that really there were only 2 or 3 other kids who were actually dedicated, but back then I took it hard when I didn't get the highest score. Everything had to be above 90% and I would even kick myself when I didn't beat this other kid who managed to get higher then me despite him studying for 2 hours and me for 2 days. My goal was to get the most awards at the end of the year.

By the time I reached Uni, it was whole different game. There are guys who are absolute monsters when it comes to their coursework. They could get through things in less time and effort then me, and still balance a social life, job, etc. I realized at this point it was impossible to be the best, but rather just be the best you, you can be (cliche I know...). It was tough no longer being the bigger fish, but it was bound to happen sooner or later. I aim for good grades but now for a different purpose. Not to be the best, but to get where I want to go. But the place I want is super competitive, so I'm expecting going toe to toe with the best of the best. Realistically, I'm not going to beat them. I'd be happy with last place so long as I get in. With good grades, at the very least it will minimize the stress. And I won't lie I'm still competitive between my small friend group when it comes to grades, where I find satisfaction in scoring 3 marks higher then them. Old habits die hard.

So I guess for me, now, it's about being above average and maybe a few steps further.

I will always prefer to be in the top 10, because it feels so good when you know that you are better than a lot of people

Parents trained me to aim high and do awesome in school In the first several years of school I did. Then I reached high school and for some reason my drive to strive higher went down and I became content with having above decent grades rather than excellent ones. Sometimes though, it isn't about learning in school nowadays...its more on simply passing.

I've taken ComSci as my major and I know a few or several of you guys will say that it was bad decision. I agree but parental 'advice' pushed me into it. I'm on internship now and a lot of lessons in school are nothing compared to what I'm learning here. In fact, most of the lessons in school are thrown out once you get to know the higher bits of it all. Like frameworks in codes. Seriously, all that PHP programming lessons are thrown out when I knew there were frameworks for that. School is just another thing to add to your resume: I went here, I am an educated individual. Its not that I hate the idea of school, its just that with some subjects, school just cant keep up.

School is essentially a receipt stating that you're good at showing up to places on time and with time management.

I stopped really giving a shit about grades when I realized that there are guys who no-life school and get straight 100s, but have zero chance in the job market because they have no social skills or auxiliary abilities.

Don't get me wrong, I still do my best on every assignment and homework.


I'm just saying that it doesn't really upset me if I don't have the highest grade.

I'm... not entirely sure how I work, honestly.

From a young age, I was pushed to aim for the stars. Be the best, do your best, stay on top of everything. Always get As and Bs, and face hell if I got lower without good reason. Yet, I never studied, and I rarely had any interest. Then, in middle school, I got a bit of choice in what classes I could take, and I started to figure out that the reason I was so bored was because I didn't care. Like, at all. Despite taking in the information, it wasn't appealing to me because I wasn't interested in it. All I had any interest in was pleasing my mother and not falling into a bad crowd and ending up like so many others from my neighborhood in a dead end job or the Navy (which I'm ineligible to join at the moment, but come war, we'll see if that lasts).

Then came High School, and I actually began to care about school. See, I actually really, really like learning, so long as it can hold my interest. With my own selection of courses, I could balance my interests with what was needed, and go even further still. I could fully enjoy school rather than pass through every day only half there, half deep in my mind. I still took things easily, because I'm not one to stress myself out with things unnecessarily (which stressing myself over anything in school qualified as unnecessary to me), which caused a lot of home tension, but I still finished ranked #6 in my class of 200+ students, and with more awards than any of the others (aside from the JROTC students). Now here in college, I've got more or less the same attitude: I'm here for the information. Grades don't matter much, since I know I'll do well. What I need is the know-how to move further in life, and gain more information, and have more interesting events occur.


Also, fun fact: I sleep when I'm not able to fully focus. Period. I think it's some kind of mental condition.

Up until about 11th grade I gave exactly 0 fucks about school work. In fact I literally got straight Fs in every class all 7th grade year because I just sat and drew shit, fucked around and stuff. Didn't even get held back. Wasnt until senior year when I actually started putting decent effort into my grades. Now I do the best I possibly can on everything I do in college.

To be honest, as long As I get B's and A's I'm good. Not a big deal If I spending hours studying just to get a few extra A's on your record to me. I don't really have the enthusiasm for school my parents want me to have. But I get in trouble at my house for every B I get because My mom cares about my grades more than basically ANY THING ELSE.

But I always get straight A's In P.E.

That totally counts right?

As long as I learn, that's what matters.

School is a risk-free zone when you commit a mistake. This way, when you get to the real world, you'll at least avoid the mistakes you've made back then.

Back in HS I'm above average in everything except history. Didn't really study, just listened and kept on bugging my math teacher if I didn't understand it. Now in college, as long as I pass I'm happy.

Right now i'm doing HS. I don't aim really high, since i'm skipping around 11 hours out of 36 due to major forces. I'm not worried though, I usually tend to get good grades.

Aslong as I pass Im Fine.