NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 01:27 It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 01:27
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

Effort For Good Grades

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
User avatar
johnnyx9
Director
Director
Joined: 28 Jun 2006
Posts: 958
Own Kudos [?]: 98 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Effort For Good Grades [#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 08:53
From what I can remember from my undergraduate days, it seemed like it took very little effort to get by, i.e. to maintain about a 3.0. Let's call this "X" amount of effort.

To get a 3.3 probably took about 1.5 X amount of effort. To get a 3.6 probably took about 2.5 X amount of effort. To get above a 3.8 probably took about 5 X amount of effort.

Going into b-school I imagine this sort of effort-return relationship isn't radically different. With networking and all the other important non-academic stuff going on, I'm wondering how hard everyone is planning on studying. For those going into banking and consulting grades will be important (whether or not your school has grade disclosure, from what I've heard they will look for distinctions or honors or whatever from NGD schools), but still nobody wants to spend all their time studying to get a 4.0 do they?
User avatar
kidderek
SVP
SVP
Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 1960
Own Kudos [?]: 332 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Effort For Good Grades [#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 09:11
I honestly don't think all that effort at getting good grades is worth it. I think it's better to network and work on softer skills. Here's an excerpt from Alex Chu's book which I thought was interesting:

Business is about execution, not theory. Unlike other disciplines, success in business is less about intellectual ideas and more about executing practical goals (the intellectual exercises are left to the doctoral students and business school professors)...Over an above a certain level of aptitude, being an effective manager or leader in an organization takes a combination of ambition, vision, and effectiveness in contributing and leading groups of people. While being exceptionally smart with numbers or abstract concepts is a definite advantage, you cannot be dumb with people if you want to succeed in the business world. Grades and test scores can measure the former, but are blind to the latter.
User avatar
squali83
Current Student
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 440
Own Kudos [?]: 24 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Effort For Good Grades [#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 09:12
johnnyx9 wrote:
From what I can remember from my undergraduate days, it seemed like it took very little effort to get by, i.e. to maintain about a 3.0. Let's call this "X" amount of effort.

To get a 3.3 probably took about 1.5 X amount of effort. To get a 3.6 probably took about 2.5 X amount of effort. To get above a 3.8 probably took about 5 X amount of effort.

Going into b-school I imagine this sort of effort-return relationship isn't radically different. With networking and all the other important non-academic stuff going on, I'm wondering how hard everyone is planning on studying. For those going into banking and consulting grades will be important (whether or not your school has grade disclosure, from what I've heard they will look for distinctions or honors or whatever from NGD schools), but still nobody wants to spend all their time studying to get a 4.0 do they?


I met with one of my future classmates and their spouse is graduating from Sloan this year. From their experience, the effort put into social/networking events is a lot greater than time spent academically. Coming from an experience based on Sloan, I imagine you can count on having the academic work be far from over bearing.
User avatar
3underscore
Current Student
Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 1428
Own Kudos [?]: 233 [0]
Given Kudos: 6
Location: New York, NY
Concentration: Finance (Corp Fin, Financial Instruments)
Schools:NYU Stern 2009
Send PM
[#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 09:17
A guy was talking to me about going to Stern. His take was "you get five courses first semester... each course gives about 25 hours a week work... then you have all the other stuff. Basically, you have to decide immediately which one course you aren't going to do so well in".

His take amused me, but I can see where he's coming from.
User avatar
johnnyx9
Director
Director
Joined: 28 Jun 2006
Posts: 958
Own Kudos [?]: 98 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
[#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 09:22
That's probably good advice, just sort of evaluating how tough classes are going to be and going for the low-hanging fruit.

Maybe I'll decide to do poorly in all my classes, that will help free up time for extra partying, I mean networking!
User avatar
Tuneman
Manager
Manager
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 103
Own Kudos [?]: 3 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
[#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 10:18
you're talking about a scale of diminishing returns. I believe you are right, you might need to double your effort to go from 3.9 to 4.0. I think the key thing is to simply put in a good amount of effort but not kill yourself. But also realize, that if you enjoy the material, you will probably wont mind studying for it as much. [/code]
User avatar
johnnyx9
Director
Director
Joined: 28 Jun 2006
Posts: 958
Own Kudos [?]: 98 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
[#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 10:31
Dimishing returns, that's the phrase I was looking for earlier. I agree, I think the material will be very interesting. Hopefully the group-work aspect will make it that much more engaging.
User avatar
eazyb81
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 03 Jul 2006
Posts: 458
Own Kudos [?]: 135 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
[#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 12:46
From talking to current students, it seems like the networking aspect of b-school should take precedence over getting excellent marks in your classes. I presume we are all going back to school to obtain a better or more fulfilling job, and getting that job takes a lot of networking. A 4.0 is great, but at the end of the day it's not going to get you a job if you don't get out and talk to people.

That said, crap grades will certainly hurt you, so you don't want to fall below the "passable" range (i'm guessing around 3.25-3.5?) and into the "poor" range.
User avatar
dukes
Director
Director
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 572
Own Kudos [?]: 8 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
[#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 15:20
I agree with most of the comments here and personally intent to follow a 80/20 approach when studying in b-school, but it is a fact that certain employers do place significant value in high GPAs or academic distinction during b-school.
User avatar
Tuneman
Manager
Manager
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 103
Own Kudos [?]: 3 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
[#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 16:02
3.25 is on the cusp of a poor GPA?
User avatar
johnnyx9
Director
Director
Joined: 28 Jun 2006
Posts: 958
Own Kudos [?]: 98 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
[#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 17:19
Well I think he means "poor" in the sense that once you get below that, your GPA will be much lower than the GPA of the people you're competing against for jobs. From what I've heard grade inflation and grading curves result in lots of good GPA's at most business schools, so if you have a 3.2, odds are most of your classmates have a better GPA, and you'll all be interviewing for the same jobs.
User avatar
eazyb81
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 03 Jul 2006
Posts: 458
Own Kudos [?]: 135 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
[#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2007, 17:26
johnnyx9 wrote:
Well I think he means "poor" in the sense that once you get below that, your GPA will be much lower than the GPA of the people you're competing against for jobs. From what I've heard grade inflation and grading curves result in lots of good GPA's at most business schools, so if you have a 3.2, odds are most of your classmates have a better GPA, and you'll all be interviewing for the same jobs.


Correct. The grading scale at b-schools, and grad schools in general, is not very similar to undergrads. People are a lot more serious in grad school, so you rarely see a D or F.
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
[#permalink]
23 Apr 2007, 17:26

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions