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I know I'm one... just curious to get an idea of the competition next year.

By Muslimah_Angel (Muslimah_Angel) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 08:11 pm: Edit

I am the biggest grade-whore EVER...

By Stanfordman99 (Stanfordman99) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 08:15 pm: Edit

I thought learning was enjoyable in of itself. Nobody needs grades to validate themselves--it's just the icing on the cake that naturally comes along when one learns for learning's sake.

Anyway, I hope you make the best of your college experience by learning as much as you can instead of merely trying to get the best grades.

By Celestia (Celestia) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 09:01 pm: Edit

i'm not a grade whore but i dohave a love for learning and i'm highly competitive....to the extent of not having a social life.....

By Itempest (Itempest) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 09:08 pm: Edit

A lot of people would rather "learn the material" and not care about the grade at all. And a lot of other people would rather just get the grade and screw the material.

I personally think the two come hand in hand. At least the way I work. I take an interest in what I'm learning and I do what I can to perfection. The grade complements my work, most of the time.

But if the question also (subtextually) is asking if I care about grades, then I'd be lying if I said no. Yeah, I do, and a lot of the time I have a weird tendency to look at all the other grades in the class and see how many people are ahead of me. It's just a competitive edge thing. (our grade sheets are printed out by student body number)

By Ulaia (Ulaia) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 09:23 pm: Edit

Even though it's toned down a bit since the first three years of high school, I think three months of summer vacation will just about get me back on my feet. I'm one who works at a pace depending on the competition level. Since there will definitely be lots of competition (just look at this post LOL), I suppose I'll have to sacrifice a decent social life...[not that engineering majors are entitled to a normal one so I heard]. Oh well, that's fine. I usually like what I learn.

By Foreignboy (Foreignboy) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 09:44 pm: Edit

I was not a grade whore until the final year of HS and I regret it like crap. Basically, I was the type of person who never studied but got decent grades. In the last year, I finally got things together and shot straight up. Too bad it took me so long to realize that NUMBERS DO MATTER in the long run.

By Sakky (Sakky) on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 12:29 am: Edit

Stanfordman99, maybe I have you confused with somebody else, but weren't you the one who recently went around saying that one of the reasons why you like Stanford is because Stanford practices grade inflation, and that grade inflation will help you get into grad school? If that was you, then how does that jive with your contention that you should learn for learning's sake?

By Donotdisturb (Donotdisturb) on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 03:30 pm: Edit

Me. I'm a grade whore.

By Xtheonex (Xtheonex) on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 04:54 pm: Edit

hey, Foreignboy... I am international too even though I live in CA. Well, I was a grade whore in 8th grade when I first came to the U.S. and had continued to be one until this year. This year, I slacked off a lot, and got rejected by Ivy's and others... even though I expected to get into couple. So, I also figured that grade... well, it's just a number... stupid mistakes can screw you up... BUT, I decided to live in library for grades at Berkeley to not make the same mistakes I had again. I bet there are many ppl like me at Berkeley. PLUS, I plan to get into HAAS business school. So, GRADE = my LIFE.

By Auginator (Auginator) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 01:50 am: Edit

I'm trying to get into med school from Berkeley. I need an MCAT score in the 95% percentile and a Berkeley GPA no lower than a 3.85 (for the Med Schools I want to go to) I'm reading my entire Chemistry book over the summer to snath my A from everyone else taking Chem 1A. So yes I have to be a grade whore, eventhough I really don't wan to be.

By Tdizzo (Tdizzo) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 12:51 pm: Edit

wow...this is just scary. You do realize that there is a proper balance between studying/grades and life don't you? Do you really want the primary focus of your college years, a time meant to shield you from the real world for four years, to be consumed by academics? Live a little, sure, if you really want to get into the best grad schools you need good grades. NO one will dispute that. But the methods by which you attempt to achieve those goals can be disputed (there is a thing called OVER-studying). You don't need to plan on being a "grade-whore" before you even get to school...or even the 8th grade as someone mentioned. There's nothing wrong with relaxing in college. And don't get me wrong you can still study your ass off and become stressed every no and then when you've got something big to do...but making that your primary occupation? Wack. If there is one problem I have with this board it is the seriousness with which so many of the posters look at college. Certainly, seriousness is required, but planning your whole life around one decision/school is ridiculous. Life has so many more options. Relax and do your best, other wise you'll end up stressed out and socialy reclusive.

By Leftykev13 (Leftykev13) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 03:51 pm: Edit

amen to that

By Kryptic (Kryptic) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 03:56 pm: Edit

You're just saying that because you want everyone else in the class to slack off so that you can get good marks, you grade whore! =)

By Fenix_Three (Fenix_Three) on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 06:30 pm: Edit

Look, the main thing about college is to get good grades. That's it. Certainly I don't plan on "over-studying" but I am going to work my butt off. Having a solid goal in mind won't make me a social recluse. (Being a genius helps, you don't have to study as much... kidding... oh how I wish I didn't have to study). I don't understand how anyone, even the nerdiest of nerds, can spend a year living in a dorm and not talk to at least one person. I'm a pretty relaxed person and I really don't stress much at all. But I MUST MUST MUST get good grades. It's kind of important when your whole family depends on you to finance their futures. I've got a mission and I'm taking it seriously. And I'll make sure that my little sister doesn't have to take college costs into account when she applies seven years from now.

By Auginator (Auginator) on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 09:29 pm: Edit

Yes, I can live a little and relax. To truly do you best, it does require a balance beetween studying and fun. Yet I do not make up the rules and standards for Med School admits now do I Tdizzo? When reading US News' top Med schools, NYU had the higest acceptance rate of all med schools, that acceptance rate was a mere 16%. It is very common for med Schools to admit 1 out of every 30 student.

By Andrewtdx (Andrewtdx) on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 02:58 am: Edit

I used to be a total grade whore when I used to be a business major, but I was just sitting there one day and started laughing. I realized, what was the point in being miserable and a recluse?

Seriously, if you go to college -- have fun, get out and explore. Life is the best experience and can never be taught in the classroom. The most successful people are often the most miserable, and even though the happiest don't make "mad bank" (which is seriously overrated, having a lot of money leads to nothing but trouble, trust me on this) are still happier than the millionare next door who works 18 hours a day to make his income. Think about it that way. You may live once, or you may live a thousand times - it doesn't really matter. How are you going to feel if you look back on your life when you are 80 or 90 and realize all your did was slave away for nothing but a damned paycheck which supposedly determines your merit and worth to society?

By Theworldismine (Theworldismine) on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 05:30 pm: Edit

I'm a grade whore. Period.

I will bitch until I get what I want.

By Drunksage (Drunksage) on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 11:43 am: Edit

I don't know about being a grade whore. I just get A's all the time.

By Esun (Esun) on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 10:18 pm: Edit

Hmmm, a grade whore? Well, if I get the grade I deserved then I'm fine with that. If I feel that I learned the material well and somehow I get a poor grade, then I'll be pissed. I think Drunksage said it for me, too.

By Sakky (Sakky) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 01:21 pm: Edit

Yeah, but what about if you didn't learn the material well and you still get an 'A'? Surely you're not going to give it back, right?

By Ahorseisahorse (Ahorseisahorse) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 06:12 pm: Edit

"Surely" no, Sakky. But the A doesn't feel like a true A, at least to some. :P
Anyways, connecting that back to the topic, your point was that everyone's a grade whore, right?

And to Esun's point: "if I feel that I learned the material well and somehow I get a poor grade, then I'll be pissed."

I hate those kinds of situations.

By Sakky (Sakky) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 02:11 pm: Edit

Hey, "false" A's may not be as good as "true" A's, but they are a hell of a lot better than "true" C's.