Do grades really matter ?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by stock, Dec 20, 2005.

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  1. stock

    stock New Member

    Just wondering what are the thoughts regarding the grades we get in the DL programmes ? Do they really matter ?
     
  2. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    I have just been reading a range of academic papers, which suggest that there is no empirical evidence showing that employers use grades as a decision making tool in the employment process. So the answer is no, they do not matter.

    Cheers,

    George
     
  3. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    Grades matter for graduate school admission but little else from my own experience. In all my working years no one has ever asked the GPA earned. If MDs can graduate with a 'C' average (2.0 GPA), how can they hold anyone else more accountable for their GPA?
     
  4. Scott Henley

    Scott Henley New Member

    Grades only matter to get into graduate programs. If you get in and graduate with an MBA, DBA or PhD from a reputable school, most employers will not ask for GPA's.
     
  5. Susanna

    Susanna New Member

    They do matter if you want to get into graduate school. A high GPA is a commendable achievement!
     
  6. Tim D

    Tim D Member

    I know some businesses in the US ask for your GPA and will not consider anything under a 3.0. This is less of a matter the longer you have been out of school of course but initially any how it is a factor. Consider this though many "Top" MBA programs in the US will not divulge your GPA to anyone and require the students to sign confidentiality papers stating that they will not release their GPA. So in a graduate program I'd say your GPA matter less than as an undergrad. This is of course relative to what you are looking to accomplish with your degree and is not a permanent condition.
     
  7. Daniel Luechtefeld

    Daniel Luechtefeld New Member

    I have seen job descriptions for some US Government positions indicating that GPA would be considered.
     
  8. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Grades may matter if your employer is paying your tuition. My last company would only pay for "C" and above grades and an overall B average (for graduate degrees).
     
  9. TristanHawk

    TristanHawk New Member

    Daniel is quite correct. If you graduate with a 3.5 or above "overall", you get preferential hiring status within the U.S. government (Outstanding Scholar Provision). 3.5 or above in Major field only, you can qualify to enter U.S. service at a higher pay rate.

    Military cares about grades for commissioning and later on when you come up for promotions.

    Some Corporate programs (entry level to fast-track programs) look at your GPA for admittance. Tuition reimbursement is also another one someone mentioned.

    So other than admittance to grad school or elite corporate programs or Federal Service, I cannot think of anything else where grades play a pivitol role.
     
  10. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    Excellent point about certain organizations outside of academia taking GPA into consideration in the hiring/promotion process.
     
  11. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    I always tell my students that in the long run grades don't matter. Grades are useful for "in-process" measure and feedback to student. But no one will know or care what your GPA was 5 years from now. The only exceptions - when traditional undergrads seek employment some employers will look at grades as they typically don't have anything else to differentiate on. Also, grad school admissions, as noted here, do consider GPA. Beyond that, the only person who will know your GPA is the registrar at the schools you attended - and most are far too busy to care. Lesson? Focus on learning, not on grades.

    Regards - Andy

     
  12. Susanna

    Susanna New Member

    Why not focus on both? Certainly care more about the learning outcomes than the proof of such but I wonder... if you don't care about the grade, will you care about the feedback that accompanies the grade? In all likelihood, over time, your concern for it will diminish as well. Complacency about any part of the education system, may it function well or not that is a debate for another thread, is not in the best interest of the student.
     
  13. Dave C.

    Dave C. New Member

    I start my DL MBA in January and the situation quoted by Ian is exactly what I am in; my employer's level of sponsorship is grade dependant. So my answer is yes, they do matter as they have a direct impact on my pocket!

    Peace,

    Dave C.
     
  14. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Personal satisifaction on a job-well-done-and-well-received?
     
  15. novemberdude

    novemberdude New Member

    I know that locally accounting firms use GPA in hiring decisions. If you want to get in with a top firm you pretty much need a high GPA.

    In the UK I understand that law firms follow the same practice.

    In terms of my own experience, when we hire a student we look at transcripts.

    But in general terms I don't think grades matter much relative to getting a job.
     
  16. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    My best friend Jaclyn (BA magna cum laude - Coastal Carolina University) and I were discussing this for part of the day.

    We asked some other folk we know what they thought. What we found is this, at least amongst the people we know.

    If you have a GPA below about 3.25 then you "think" that grades aren't really all that important but still some important. Those with a GPA below 2.90 seemed to think grades weren't important hardly at all.

    We know a couple in the under 2 range who "failed out" -- they said grades aren't really fair and that they shouldn't exist at all.

    We only know one guy with a 4.0 -- he says grades are very important. She and I agree.

    Is there a denial of grade importance going on? Maybe just a difference in what different personalities think is important. Both of the under-2 folks we know had a really good time during their one year in college.

    Maybe it's like size. Size doesn't matter -- really it doesn't. :D
     
  17. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    How do you know this?
     
  18. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    I was told. I have read it. I have heard it often. And yet, do I truly believe?

    Things that don't truly matter are rarely questioned or analyzed. Things which are discussed and questioned and studied and rationalized and... well, they must be important to someone.

    IMHO
     
  19. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    OK. I have, on occasion, heard that size doesn't matter. But when I hear such nonsense, either (a) if I heard it from a woman, I get the distinct impression that she's trying to spare my poor dear fragile male ego or else (b) if I heard it from a man, I wonder how any mere man can really know for sure.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 22, 2005
  20. mcdirector

    mcdirector New Member

    Not only do they matter getting into graduate school, but grades need to stay at a certain level to stay in graduate school.
     

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