Grades and Tests and The Job Market
Posted by Daryl Capuano on Friday, June 19, 2009
The next ten years will be very problematic for those entering the job market who did not have stellar credentials.
The Great Recession will provide a Darwinian shake-out of those least fit to survive in an economy where only the best are assured jobs.
There are many Shoreline, CT and Southeastern, CT parents who fully understand this fact. They come to our offices in Madison, CT and Old Saybrook, CT and embrace our tutoring and test prep programs. They do not complain about the need for their student-children to get good grades and good SAT scores to enter colleges of their choice. They understand that this is the world as it presents itself.
When we hear some parents whine about the need for their children to get good grades, we wonder what they do when they are evaluating a product or a service. Consumer ratings are becoming an increasing part of consumer decisions. Amazon.com is perhaps the best example. Would you buy a product from Amazon.com that had low ratings?
Certainly, Consumer Reports has always been a vital part of any intelligent consumer's decision to buy cars and other large-ticket items. The ratings are real world grades and tests. Consumers make choices based on such grades and tests. The same holds true for services. Feedback on who is the best plumber, doctor, lawyer provides a different variation of an evaluation.
We make decisions on who to hire and what to buy in part - often large part - on the grades and tests given by others to the person or product that we evaluate.
When students from Shoreline, CT and Southeastern, CT make their way into the work world, they will be similarly evaluated by employers. From a generic perspective (as in unrelated to the specific job in question which would call for specific majors/experience/demonstrated interest/competence), what do employers consider heavily when evaluating a 22 year old graduate with no full time job experience.
The college from which the student graduated and the performance at that college
Yes, we have heard every complaint and exception to the rule regarding whether what college you attend "makes a difference". But, no, there has never been any evidence that we have uncovered that can demonstrate that attending Harvard University over Eastern Connecticut does not create more OPTIONS. Those who would argue otherwise do not live in reality.
The simple truth is that for medicine, law, engineering, management consulting, investment banking, academia and many other fields, the undergraduate college from which the applicant graduated matters - in some cases a great deal.
We fully understand that there are plenty of people who "made it" despite going to a lesser known school. No doubt that character and other factors related to good work ethic, common sense, and self-education can make up for not having a name brand school. Name brand schools simply make it a lot easier for many, but not all, entry level career paths.
How do students gain admission to top schools? Getting good grades and in many, but not all, cases having top test scores.
With great certainty, we know that this raises the ire of some.
Yet, we go back to the question of what most everyone does when making buying decisions - we evaluate based on prior test scores (from past consumers/consumer rating agencies).
This is the world as it is. Make sure your student-child understands this truth. Inspire him/her to make the most of his/her potential by doing their best to earn the best grades/scores possible.
The Great Recession will provide a Darwinian shake-out of those least fit to survive in an economy where only the best are assured jobs.
There are many Shoreline, CT and Southeastern, CT parents who fully understand this fact. They come to our offices in Madison, CT and Old Saybrook, CT and embrace our tutoring and test prep programs. They do not complain about the need for their student-children to get good grades and good SAT scores to enter colleges of their choice. They understand that this is the world as it presents itself.
When we hear some parents whine about the need for their children to get good grades, we wonder what they do when they are evaluating a product or a service. Consumer ratings are becoming an increasing part of consumer decisions. Amazon.com is perhaps the best example. Would you buy a product from Amazon.com that had low ratings?
Certainly, Consumer Reports has always been a vital part of any intelligent consumer's decision to buy cars and other large-ticket items. The ratings are real world grades and tests. Consumers make choices based on such grades and tests. The same holds true for services. Feedback on who is the best plumber, doctor, lawyer provides a different variation of an evaluation.
We make decisions on who to hire and what to buy in part - often large part - on the grades and tests given by others to the person or product that we evaluate.
When students from Shoreline, CT and Southeastern, CT make their way into the work world, they will be similarly evaluated by employers. From a generic perspective (as in unrelated to the specific job in question which would call for specific majors/experience/demonstrated interest/competence), what do employers consider heavily when evaluating a 22 year old graduate with no full time job experience.
The college from which the student graduated and the performance at that college
Yes, we have heard every complaint and exception to the rule regarding whether what college you attend "makes a difference". But, no, there has never been any evidence that we have uncovered that can demonstrate that attending Harvard University over Eastern Connecticut does not create more OPTIONS. Those who would argue otherwise do not live in reality.
The simple truth is that for medicine, law, engineering, management consulting, investment banking, academia and many other fields, the undergraduate college from which the applicant graduated matters - in some cases a great deal.
We fully understand that there are plenty of people who "made it" despite going to a lesser known school. No doubt that character and other factors related to good work ethic, common sense, and self-education can make up for not having a name brand school. Name brand schools simply make it a lot easier for many, but not all, entry level career paths.
How do students gain admission to top schools? Getting good grades and in many, but not all, cases having top test scores.
With great certainty, we know that this raises the ire of some.
Yet, we go back to the question of what most everyone does when making buying decisions - we evaluate based on prior test scores (from past consumers/consumer rating agencies).
This is the world as it is. Make sure your student-child understands this truth. Inspire him/her to make the most of his/her potential by doing their best to earn the best grades/scores possible.