C's get degrees but

[tasha99]

Applications for teaching positions require transcripts as well as letters of recommendations.

This is mostly to see where you are on the pay scale, though. I had to turn in my transcripts, but it was after I'd already had an offer. YMMV, and it probably depends on the subject taught as well as the school district.

I have moved to the medical field (for speech therapy) and my employer was more interested in licensure and letters of recommendation than grades.

For my field, C's do get degrees, but they don't get you into grad school. C's in grad school are like F's in that they are not considered passing.

 

[teacherforhi]

This is mostly to see where you are on the pay scale, though. I had to turn in my transcripts, but it was after I'd already had an offer. YMMV, and it probably depends on the subject taught as well as the school district.

I have moved to the medical field (for speech therapy) and my employer was more interested in licensure and letters of recommendation than grades.

For my field, C's do get degrees, but they don't get you into grad school. C's in grad school are like F's in that they are not considered passing.

In NC, the pay is based on years of experience and degree (although that last part ends soon). I find it silly that I have to produce letters of recommendation, college transcripts, my Praxis scores, AND a copy of my license. If I have a current license, then obviously I finished college and passed the Praxis. After 15 years, you would think references would be more important than what grades I got.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

Investment banking -- everyone looked at transcripts and only students with 4.0 or close to received offers. Unless you had close to a perfect GPA you wouldn't even get a chance with a recruiter.

This. I'm in IB and we not only look closely at GPA (as well as the courses selected to get that GPA; fluff classes do not impress), we only hire from a few schools. I'm not sure I agree with this policy, but it is unquestionably the policy that is in effect in my field.

I also agree that it's possible to have a ton of fun in college and still get a top GPA. That doesn't mean one needs to get blitzed every night, or at all, but the notion that only students who live in the library have a chance at a 4.0 is false. I had a 4.0 and never once studied, much less lived, in the libraries (although I used them a lot for research).

ETA, I didn't mean to imply that I did not study in college, merely that I didn't study endlessly in the library. Studying was a component of my academic experience, just not the sole focus of my life.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

I suppose it depends on the field you are going into. My daughter is going into Theatre. I'm pretty sure they aren't going to care if she gets A's or C's.

In reading these answers, if you get a C in a class....you my as well not even bother finishing getting your degree because you won't be offered a job in your field anyway.

I think it really depends on your major and the field you want to go into. My DS17 wants to go into a PharmD (pharmacy) program. The GPA required to maintain your spot after you are accepted is very high (3.5 or above and the semesters have 18 credits each as opposed to the typical 15) for 6 years. Then you need to pass your state boards, so even if they didn't have the GPA requirements, you do need to stay on top of your classes to be able to pass. Additionally while alcohol does not come into play, pharm students are randomly drug tested (personally my son would be in HUGE trouble, but that's another topic) so slacking off for the party scene is not an option if he wants to succeed.

As for theater, your DDs talent is going to be far more important than her grades. Where is she thinking of studying after she finishes her associates? Does she know which aspect of theatre she wants to pursue? My DS 15 loves theatre and often says he wants to go into it...perhaps producing or directing. He's very unsure though. I'm always interested in hearing about others' pursuits in this field.

 

[SydSim]

Where is she thinking of studying after she finishes her associates? Does she know which aspect of theatre she wants to pursue? My DS 15 loves theatre and often says he wants to go into it...perhaps producing or directing. He's very unsure though. I'm always interested in hearing about others' pursuits in this field.

DD, a rising senior, will be perusing a theatre degree in college. She wants a BFA in Acting, with a minor in music, but not a straight Musical Theater degree.

DH and I have a lot of experience in and knowledge about the business, so we wholeheartedly support her endeavor.

We made sure that the schools she is applying to are an overall fit for everyone - for her academically and socially, for us financially.

She has a list of about ten schools right now, with Shenandoah U, Elon U, and Pace U being at the top. She has several other in-state and out-of-state options, as well as several non-audition schools that she would be more than happy to attend, on her list.

We have visited all schools except for three, one of which we will see in August once the school opens for the year, and the other two in the fall.

Our friends who are in the business have been questioning us as to why NYU and Carnegie Mellon aren't in the list. Yes they are wonderful schools for theatre training, but we are advising her to choose a school that is a fit "for her", as opposed to prestige. If she's unhappy at her school and does poorly and drops out, there will be no "prestigious degree" at all!

We want good training and minimal debt upon graduation.

 

[sam_gordon]

It totally depends on the job your applying for whether transcripts will be needed or not.

 

[bballmom56]

My DS is employed in the IT field and transcripts with min. GPA requirements were necessary for most the the ads he saw. He is on his second job now since graduating and transcripts were required for both positions. As I understand it though, as you gain experience and move up the ladder, they no longer require it as your experience speaks for itself. But for those first few jobs, it is important.

And yes, in the teaching field in our state it is required. We know the DD of our very good friends who is a bright kid, but liked to party and take too many "mental health" days off while in college. Her GPA reflected that too. She had always wanted to be a teacher. Well with her GPA and tons of competition for the jobs here, it was not going to happen. She even went back to get a second area certification and started a MA program. That did not work either. She is not employed in the education field.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Transcripts were required for my job after college that I worked at for 5 years. I did some interviewing and recruiting on the side and a 3.2-3.4 GPA was required depending on the hiring needs at the time. We also asked for ACT and SAT scores.... The college you graduated from also played a factor...a bit more wiggle room was given for the Ivy League and top colleges on GPA than what was given for the no-name colleges.

 

[leebee]

Applications for faculty positions at colleges and universities usually require both undergrad and graduate transcripts. I think competition is high and fraud isn't unheard of, so they want to see your grades and have confirmation that you actually earned the degrees you claim to possess.

 

[declansdad]

C students run the world.

 

[carrie1626]

It all depends on the field

 

[LisaR]

In reality, I don't think my DD even NEEDS a degree for Theatre -- work experience is more important on building that resume. The only good thing it is for is connections AND we found out the 4 year school she is going to counts the Disney College Program for credit!

As the parent of a son who is into theater, it bugs the heck out of me that he needs to go to college to get a degree in a field where grades really don't matter. Why do I need to pay all that money and he can get C's? It seems like we need to get to a point in this society where we say if the grades don't matter, you don't need a degree in that field! Work experience is far more important in some instances and this is one of them.

 

[texasteacher35]

In reality, I don't think my DD even NEEDS a degree for Theatre -- work experience is more important on building that resume. The only good thing it is for is connections AND we found out the 4 year school she is going to counts the Disney College Program for credit!

That is so cool, though...and to get the Disney College Program!! What a fantastic repertoire to have even before graduating!!!! Wow, love it!!!! Work experience and EXPERIENCE in general is crucial!!!

 

[texasteacher35]

Applications for teaching positions require transcripts as well as letters of recommendations.

Yes, both states that I am certified in wanted my bachelors and my master's transcripts. They look at it for sure!!!

 

[texasteacher35]

It totally depends on the job your applying for whether transcripts will be needed or not.

Yeah, but don't you think, in general, if you are going to spend the money and time to go...do your best...one C or a couple of C's isn't going to kill you...but usually in your major of study, those grades need to be higher, and should be...if that is what interests someone and that is the field they WANT to be be involved in, they should be more knowledgable about it.

When I took my basics in college, I did fine, but once I got to all my MATH classes (that was my major) I was LOVING LOVING the classes and I really showed my potential. Maybe not so much in like history or English, because I wasn't caring so much about those classes or analyzing Sir Gowan and the Green Knight - boring profs. Then, when I got to my EDUCATION classes, I again, was a rock star in one classes because I thrived in it.

 

[texasteacher35]

C students run the world.

That's one of our problems....underachievement...but, there are some SMART people that just didn't try so hard in college...I'm not knocking that there are a few smart ones that slip through the cracks and don't really need to be stellar students to be successful.

That would never happen in China...that's why we have fallen behind. (I'm a teacher, and I can vouch for that!!)

 

[declansdad]

That's one of our problems....underachievement...but, there are some SMART people that just didn't try so hard in college...I'm not knocking that there are a few smart ones that slip through the cracks and don't really need to be stellar students to be successful.

That would never happen in China...that's why we have fallen behind. (I'm a teacher, and I can vouch for that!!)

I don't believe that a "C" means you underachieve. The system most parts of North America uses relies heavily on testing. Achieving high marks on a tests in not always a true indicator of how well you will perform in the real world. Achieving high marks in tests means you are very good at memorizing material and spitting it back out within the exam time period.

In many cases, students who score "Cs" are more well-rounded, have better life skills and have more common sense than the "A" students. The are also more likely to have more extra-curricular activities and skills on a resume that an employer is interested in.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

C students run the world.

No, Harvard, Yale, and to a slightly lesser extent Princeton, MIT, Stanford and Wellesley grads run the world.

The old adage about C students running the world refers to their entrepreneurial tendencies, but even those days are fading somewhat, and as has been shown in this thread, certain careers are now largely foreclosed to C students, rightly or wrongly, and as the funnel narrows, pedigree and network will matter more and more. It's not a good thing, in my opinion, but it is reality.

 

[LisaR]

I don't believe that a "C" means you underachieve. The system most parts of North America uses relies heavily on testing. Achieving high marks on a tests in not always a true indicator of how well you will perform in the real world. Achieving high marks in tests means you are very good at memorizing material and spitting it back out within the exam time period.

I agree with this part of your post.

In many cases, students who score "Cs" are more well-rounded, have better life skills and have more common sense than the "A" students. The are also more likely to have more extra-curricular activities and skills on a resume that an employer is interested in.

This part, not so much. I'm guessing the vast majority of C students are getting C's for one of the following reasons:
1. They just aren't equipped to handle college classes
2. They aren't utilizing the tutoring resources offered by the college
3. They are content with C's
4. The professor really is horrible and shouldn't be teaching
5. They don't have time to study (working two jobs to pay tuition)
6. They don't make time to study (partying, having fun, skipping classes, etc)

I highly doubt a large percentage of those C students are "more well-rounded, have better life skills and have more common sense than the "A" students." Actually, I find that statement to be something a C student might try to use to convince themselves and others of why they got C's to begin with.

 

[declansdad]

No, Harvard, Yale, and to a slightly lesser extent Princeton, MIT, Stanford and Wellesley grads run the world.

The old adage about C students running the world refers to their entrepreneurial tendencies, but even those days are fading somewhat, and as has been shown in this thread, certain careers are now largely foreclosed to C students, rightly or wrongly, and as the funnel narrows, pedigree and network will matter more and more. It's not a good thing, in my opinion, but it is reality.

Maybe in some parts of the world but not all.