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Do Grades Matter? A Discussion About Thinking Bigger While at CMU (2016) [pdf]

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Re: Do Grades Matter? A Discussion About Thinking Bigger While at CMU (2016) [pdf]

#11

Post by aerioux »

oddity wrote: post #4
z1mm32m4n wrote: post #3

> You have to struggle/agonize over it. You have to immerse yourself in it. You have to think about it all the time. We see these ideas echoed over and over by intensely successful people. For example, it's the same one Richard Hamming claims in his famous talk, "You and Your Research"[1]. Kayvon's talk focuses heavily on the side of academia, but the claim holds equally well in two other areas: 1. Community involvem…

Kayvon was my undergraduate thesis advisor as well as an instructor for a class I took while there, and it's hard to exaggerate how fantastic he was. I second your recommendation.

hehe hi :^) isn't this the slide show kayvon showed us at the research symposium?

Re: Do Grades Matter? A Discussion About Thinking Bigger While at CMU (2016) [pdf]

#12

Post by tnecniv »

z1mm32m4n wrote: post #3

> You have to struggle/agonize over it. You have to immerse yourself in it. You have to think about it all the time. We see these ideas echoed over and over by intensely successful people. For example, it's the same one Richard Hamming claims in his famous talk, "You and Your Research"[1]. Kayvon's talk focuses heavily on the side of academia, but the claim holds equally well in two other areas: 1. Community involvem…

> By taking fewer classes, there's more available time for the motivated student to read an interesting paper related to the lecture that week--and read it thoroughly. There's more time to think critically about interesting, new problems, and even to discover one's own passions or calling.

This is why it's a good idea to join a research lab, even if only for a semester. Hanging out with grad students can give you a new perspective on a lot of cool things you'd never know about and help demonstrate why certain things are important.

Re: Do Grades Matter? A Discussion About Thinking Bigger While at CMU (2016) [pdf]

#13

Post by David »

sotojuan wrote: post #8
Upvoter33 wrote: post #5

one problem w/ cmu education: it burns a lot of people out. I've known many a bright folk to go in flying high and come out just wanting to find something more relaxing to do. simply put: it's not for everyone. of course, many other top schools are the same way...

I think the point of the slides (and college in general) is that you don't necessarily have to stress out yourself to be an all As student with a double major to get a good job. Instead, relax a bit more and build software.

Really? I didn't see that in the slides. I saw "trade classes or grades for other stuff (but still work to or past your limit)" specifically with the references to not sleeping. As a CMU alum that both hit home and depressed me. I can't, and don't want, to do that kind of shit anymore. Why are we encouraging our undergrads to work to the point of harm in order to excel? Excellence can happen without all nighters, and it's more sustainable that way.

In essence, I agree with you but I don't think the slides do.

Re: Do Grades Matter? A Discussion About Thinking Bigger While at CMU (2016) [pdf]

#14

Post by Powerofmene »

IMO high grades are simply an indication of the ability to meet the expectations of either the Professor or the parents if they are paying tuition or even to yourself if that is how you measure success. Grades are not typically an indication of mastery of the subject matter because that comes with application of that which was learned rather than a recitation of that which was taught. Low grades, well they are a horse of a different color altogether.

Re: Do Grades Matter? A Discussion About Thinking Bigger While at CMU (2016) [pdf]

#15

Post by a_bonobo »

CryoLogic wrote: post #6

Some of the smartest, most successful and most driven people I know are highschool dropouts. It's a shame we put such an emphasis on grades, which really just reflect someone's ability to spit out things that have already been figured out - not any proof of ingenuity, curiosity, or the ability to learn on the fly. (before the replies - yes I know a lot of dropouts without any ambition or discipline as well - but livi…

>and didn't learn much I couldn't have taught myself.

I've been thinking a lot about this recently, and I think this could be a fallacy brought on by the weird way we remember things. When I think about what I learned during my undergrad I'd like to say that I learned very little, but then I just know things I must have learned during university.

To me, it's really hard to pinpoint when and where I learned something I truly absorbed, and I don't think I'm alone in this.

This gives me a very false impression of what I did during university. Could I have learned all of this myself? Would I have known where to look?

Re: Do Grades Matter? A Discussion About Thinking Bigger While at CMU (2016) [pdf]

#16

Post by sjg007 »

The reason to go to university is to work with and learn from the best and smartest people in an area you enjoy. There is a ton of opportunity and you just have to take advantage. It is also a great time to figure out yourself, what you want and only have to answer to yourself.

I do think colleges should offer a 101 course where you get to work on establishing healthy habits and provide an understanding of mental health etc...

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