I've seen many reasons adduced by several individuals why grades do not matter or are less important in determining future successes. I do think the influence of grades has been understated.

No doubt, grades can be a poor way to determine someone's success or better still, measure an individual's self-worth.

Your success in life or otherwise may not be determined by how excellent your grades are. It probably isn't going to make you successful or unsuccessful.

However, grades are an instant image of you at any point in time. Grades are the foremost tools schools use to measure it's students abilities. This means it will give a huge initial judgement about you, which transcends beyond the academic environment.
If you think grades don't matter, ask that friend who missed that fully paid scholarship by graduating with a third class.
Grades matter if you desire to get that competitive job where employers look at CGPA.
As a fresh graduate, grades will matter until you get something more compelling to sell yourself.
If you desire career progression in the academics, bad grades will ground you.

It is a fact that majority of people with low grades are usually defaulters when it comes to self-discipline, hard work, diligence, and planning skill, to mention but a few. All of these failings might act in limiting the success of these individuals (with poor grades) after graduation.

Good grades give you a head start, and an added advantage going forward. The world is moving at a fast pace, too busy in most cases to give you an opportunity to disprove your poor grades. Therefore they go by the numbers (grades) in assessing you. You probably won't get a chance to prove your competence.

And yes, Not everyone will be an entrepreneur or succeed as one. Not everyone will have giraffe legs (know somebody that knows somebody in that establishment). Not everyone will/can work in the Nigerian civil service (where anything goes).

Haven stated that, here are 5 things that happen when you graduate with a low grade:

1. You close important doors: some doors when closed can never be opened again. How sad! Whatever opportunities, big or small, there are outside that door eludes you forever.
If you settled for less and got low grades due to laziness and nonchalant attitude towards book work, you effectively closed all doors requiring higher grades!
A graduate with a pass or a third class automatically rules him/herself out of certain job opportunities! I need not mention these jobs, you know them.

2. Fewer choices: this is similar to the above. You end up with less choice if you graduate with a poor CGPA. why? Windows are smaller than doors!
Less career advancement options, less job option, and less pay. You'll have to settle for less.

3. Vices will appeal to you: I mean no disrespect to those with poor grades. However, social vices such as gambling, drunkenness, and others I choose not to mention will appeal to you. Anything just to dampen the disappointment of wasted years. However, it all ends in more disappointment for those not willing to get it right the right way.

4. Battered esteem: poor grades will batter your esteem. You will always avoid public discussions that will warrant a mention or display of your grade status either by you or others. Can you comfortably put your pass degree qualification on a CV? Never!
Deflated ego, inferiority, and other similar words will describe your situation.
Only a few (mentally strong) will refuse to be downcast and laid-back by letting grades get in their way to achieving success. The greater majority wallows in regret for years.

5. Delays in career progression: if you graduate with a third class, you'll need a PGD to move forward. If it's a pass, you're probably stuck/grounded. In the academics, grades are prioritised, and it'll remain so for a long time.

It is, therefore important that you begin to answer questions such as where you desire to be in the next five years, what steps to take to get there and what doors you need to go through. The earlier these questions are answered, the more doors you'll have access to, and go through.

To make it big, you either have to be the best at what you are doing (non academic activity) or follow the conventional easier path - good grades.

Choose the doors to open and don't let life choose for you because it might be a far cry from that which you desired.

Grades do matter a lot.

Copyright NAIJA CGPA

On point
So this is how it feels to be FTC?
No big deal jare... I wonder why Nairalanders are always racing to be the first to comment. It could be because, maturity fell on me at age 5 or because i don't get freaky about certain things sha.

Impeccable write up. Continue saying First Class, second class doesn't matter,until you find yourself as an example.your eye go clear like crystal. A word is a enough for the wise.

Xsem:
Impeccable write up. Continue saying First Class, second class doesn't matter,until you find yourself as an example.your eye go clear like crystal. A word is a enough for the wise.

It depends on the course. The case is not always so in professional courses.

tensazangetsu20:

It depends on the course. The case is not always so in professional courses.

You are very right but I believe that it is always important that one becomes exceptional or excellent in ones field. Even when you are doing a professional course,it is still pertinent that you become exceptional.

Xsem:

You are very right but I believe that it is always important that one becomes exceptional or excellent in ones field. Even when you are doing a professional course,it is still pertinent that you become exceptional.

i concur

Xsem:

You are very right but I believe that it is always important that one becomes exceptional or excellent in ones field. Even when you are doing a professional course,it is still pertinent that you become exceptional.

Being exceptional has nothing to do with grades. Grades are important but there are not all there is to it. Klaus roth graduated with a third class from Cambridge university but he became the first British man to win a fields medal in mathematics.

tensazangetsu20:

Being exceptional has nothing to do with grades. Grades are important but there are not all there is to it. Klaus roth graduated with a third class from Cambridge university but he became the first British man to win a fields medal in mathematics.

He was exceptional even though his grades didn't portray that but then, he had to prove himself. Like what Op wrote,it is easier for you with a high cgpa to be selected than you with a low cgpa.Being exceptional comes with you being a master in your field,grades MIGHT not prove that but nevertheless grades are important.

Xsem:

He was exceptional even though his grades didn't portray that but then, he had to prove himself. Like what Op wrote,it is easier for you with a high cgpa to be selected than you with a low cgpa.Being exceptional comes with you being a master in your field,grades MIGHT not prove that but nevertheless grades are important.

It's true though but I think it depends on the individual. If you would love yourself to be examined by some figures on a piece of paper then it's alright.

if u r an undergrad reading this try ur possible best to make a 3.5cgpa as it's going to at least determine aw u feel abt urself within n without for ur first 3yrs of being a graduate...

in Nigeria d discrimination is just too high

Xsem:

You are very right but I believe that it is always important that one becomes exceptional or excellent in ones field. Even when you are doing a professional course,it is still pertinent that you become exceptional.

I even disagree. No matter the course, if you don't distinguish yourself, you will soon realize how competitive that course is and number of people having stronger grades than you in the event of an interview or a selection process. Nothing like being the best or in that category wherever you find yourself, don't be deceived

hardbody:


I even disagree. No matter the course, if you don't distinguish yourself, you will soon realize how competitive that course is and number of people having stronger grades than you in the event of an interview or a selection process. Nothing like being the best or in that category wherever you find yourself, don't be deceived

I think we are saying the same thing harddy

Xsem:

I think we are saying the same thing harddy

Yeah we are. I only responded because you were shifting grounds because of the warped views of the guy claiming that exceptional performance is not necessary for some professional courses.

Anyways, nice post.

hardbody:


I even disagree. No matter the course, if you don't distinguish yourself, you will soon realize how competitive that course is and number of people having stronger grades than you in the event of an interview or a selection process. Nothing like being the best or in that category wherever you find yourself, don't be deceived

As much as we all want to be the best, we can't all be the best. There will always be average people and below average people. As for getting jobs, not everyone will start as a graduate trained at shell or KPMG. You just have to start somewhere no matter how small and start building yourself. Life is all about the opportunities you can create for yourself.

tensazangetsu20:

As much as we all want to be the best, we can't all be the best. There will always be average people and below average people. As for getting jobs, not everyone will start as a graduate trained at shell or KPMG. You just have to start somewhere no matter how small and start building yourself. Life is all about the opportunities you can create for yourself.

Amongst others, 2 people impacted me very much in academics

1. My maths teachers was always saying in class in my form 2, that every sane person is imbued with a brain and an ability to get a university degree
2. One Ghanaian professor, i think Jengwe or so, during our induction in my first week in the university told us to aspire to come out with a first class that if we fell short of first, we'd probably make a second upper. However if you come in saying you should at least leave with a second class, you may even drop to a third.

Did it work, yes for me it did. Senate refused to grant any first class in law, but 8 of us came out with second upper. Of the 8 of us, there is SAN, a judge, one of the girls just got her Doctorate, at least 2 of us are top flight executives in the financial services sector. My point, people should not start off a program with the mindset that they can play in the lower rungs. I have often heard that all fingers are not equal, my question to that is, why don't I be the longest or middle finger.

Food for thought.

hardbody:


Amongst others, 2 people impacted me very much in academics

1. My maths teachers was always saying in class in my form 2, that every sane person is imbued with a brain and an ability to get a university degree
2. One Ghanaian professor, i think Jengwe or so, during our induction in my first week in the university told us to aspire to come out with a first class that if we fell short of first, we'd probably make a second upper. However if you come in saying you should at least leave with a second class, you may even drop to a third.

Did it work, yes for me it did. Senate refused to grant any first class in law, but 8 of us came out with second upper. Of the 8 of us, there is SAN, a judge, one of the girls just got her Doctorate, at least 2 of us are top flight executives in the financial services sector. My point, people should not start off a program with the mindset that they can play in the lower rungs. I have often heard that all fingers are not equal, my question to that is, why don't I be the longest or middle finger.

Food for thought.

Your post got me pondering. Did you school in Ghana?

The truth is, just make the best out of every situation. If u're in school, Study hard. If U make a first class or 2.1, use it to seek the kinda job u want. If u got something lower, double ur hustle in other endeavors, U may even live a better life than ur grades would v provided. We all knw how many ppl with high CGPAs roam the streets unemployed.

The warped focus on university education and grades is itself a big problem in Nigeria.

Degree is not a license to success. If u graduate with a poor gp, don't feel bad about urself, just work hard in other ways. U go still make am

Ok

Nice thread
Why are there no valuable contributions on political and crime related threads too aside from name calling and checking?

Cc Seun Lalasticlala Mynd44

Hdanny:

However, grades are an instant image of you at any point in
time.

This is not always true, your appearance, confidence, communication/interpersonal skills does. Grades pops up at later stage.

Hdanny:

If you think grades don't matter, ask that friend who missed
that fully paid scholarship by graduating with a third class.
Grades matter if you desire to get that competitive job
where employers look at CGPA.

In cases of scholarships I agree with you. However, there are student who knew they won't use their certificate or grade after school, hence they don't mind a pass, for this group of persons, grades doesn't matter.

Hdanny:

2. Fewer choices: this is similar to the above. You end up
with less choice if you graduate with a poor CGPA.

I will agree with you in the context of developed nations not Nigeria. Fact and figures in Nigeria shows that those with less grades makes it big. funny enough most of lecturers in schools had a regrettable grades as first degree (check statistics before debating).

Hdanny:

3. Vices will appeal to you

I completely disagree with you, a criminal is a criminal regardless of circumstances.

Hdanny:

4. Battered esteem: poor grades will batter your esteem.

I am opposed to such believe, this is because those with poor grades mostly channel their energy towards other things in life and become highly productive. On the other hand, it is first class graduates hustling on the street that has battered esteem and may end up committing suicide seeing those with less grades better position in the society and celebrated by all.

Hdanny:

5. Delays in career progression

Again this depend on what career. For business minded, it will even accelerate progression.


Conclusions: It is good to go for the best grades, but always have it in your mind that this can open doors and can as well gives you much frustration depending on how you use it. However, the Main thing most student struggled with is defining a clear career path, which is critical, It is your Career path that should shape what grade or skills set you should go for.

Life is machined differently for different people...

What of people who never want to be under employment?..

The main point is discovering your passion and carving a path.. have seen medical doctors and biologist working as bankers

.

nice post Op

Some students are not good at exams.

Some brains can cram without knowing anything.

Finland and Norway has discovered this. They are restructuring their academic system.

People who graduated with better grades than me are now celebrating me.I attended interview with one, he failed and I got the job. Destiny plays very important part.

tensazangetsu20:

It depends on the course. The case is not always so in professional courses.

It is worst with professional courses... Esp engineering..
G.E doesnt need ur 3.5 cgpa sef , they need graduates in the top 75 % of ur class that is from 3.75 cgpa

Hdanny:
I've seen many reasons adduced by several individuals why
grades do not matter or are less important in determining
future successes. I do think the influence of grades has
been understated.
No doubt, grades can be a poor way to determine
someone's success or better still, measure an individual's
self-worth.


Your success in life or otherwise may not be determined by
how excellent your grades are. It probably isn't going to
make you successful or unsuccessful.
However, grades are an instant image of you at any point in
time. Grades are the foremost tools schools use to
measure it's students abilities. This means it will give a
huge initial judgement about you, which transcends beyond the academic environment.



If you think grades don't matter, ask that friend who missed
that fully paid scholarship by graduating with a third class.
Grades matter if you desire to get that competitive job
where employers look at CGPA.

As a fresh graduate, grades will matter until you get
something more compelling to sell yourself.
If you desire career progression in the academics, bad
grades will ground you.

2. Fewer choices: this is similar to the above. You end up
with less choice if you graduate with a poor CGPA. why?
Windows are smaller than doors!
Less career advancement options, less job option, and less
pay. You'll have to settle for less.


3. Vices will appeal to you: I mean no disrespect to those
with poor grades. However, social vices such as gambling,
drunkenness, and others I choose not to mention will
appeal to you. Anything just to dampen the
disappointment of wasted years. However, it all ends in
more disappointment for those not willing to get it right the
right way.


4. Battered esteem: poor grades will batter your esteem.
You will always avoid public discussions that will warrant
a mention or display of your grade status either by you or
others. Can you comfortably put your pass degree
qualification on a CV? Never!

Deflated ego, inferiority, and other similar words will
describe your situation.
Only a few (mentally strong) will refuse to be downcast
and laid-back by letting grades get in their way to
achieving success. The greater majority wallows in regret
for years.


5. Delays in career progression: if you graduate with a
third class, you'll need a PGD to move forward. If it's a
pass, you're probably stuck/grounded. In the academics,
grades are prioritised, and it'll remain so for a long time.

i beg to differ and reason in another way, i think coming out with a low grade so to say makes one hungrier, knowing fully well that one's chances re limited, the low grade tend to think and hustle to make something meaningful out of life while the high grade ones sit at home waiting to get employed... eventually, the so called low graders now get t employ the the high grade students .. so who is boss
take a look at Nigeria, one of our senators came out with a third class and his part f the people making laws for us and i want, where re the first class students of his time.. ' professors'
even heard that our CBN gov is third class graduate....
dont get me wrong pls, graduating with a good grade instills confidence and pride in us which is good... but its shouldn't be seen as a measure of success.. grades re just certs,, it still balls down to how much u can use ur brain to succeed

nothing will Happen.
those with the lowest cgpa gat d best job.
fuk cgpa , life is not by result.