<p>After all that is said and done, it still comes down to the student. The Manzi article I posted in another thread said the following:</p>
<p>“A GPA-plus-major screen is not about IQ, as much as it is a quick screen to see who is capable of figuring out how to succeed in a new environment, and of doing at least some sustained work.” </p>
<p>Google also said:</p>
<p>“For every job, though, the No. 1 thing we look for is general cognitive ability, and it’s not IQ. It’s learning ability. It’s the ability to process on the fly. It’s the ability to pull together disparate bits of information. We assess that using structured behavioral interviews that we validate to make sure they’re predictive.”</p>
<p>When is “figuring out how to succeed in a new environment”, “the ability to process on the fly”, “the ability to pull together disparate bits of information” etc. not IQ?</p>
<p>Doublespeak aside, research is clear. What makes a good employee is very much what makes a good student- cognitive ability (.5) and conscientiousness (.2). The prestige of the university may offer you different opportunities, but how far you get in life is still ability and conscientiousness. That is how I interpret the Dale and Kreuger study anyway.</p>