<p>I agree that there’s a lot more pressure in college. Also, your professors won’t always recognize it. Sometimes they do and can see that you truly care about their subject, but that alone won’t get you through it. </p>
<p>I’m not a STEM major, but I do a lot of work in my writing and rhetoric and French classes. I practice my French every day to improve and do well, and I scramble to keep up with my WRT readings and assignments. </p>
<p>No matter how hard I try and how advanced my writing is, I can never get more than a 9.5/10 on a French composition. I seriously go all out and sometimes spend hours writing a 750-word paper, but my professor never gives 10s (to anyone; I’ve checked). ONCE I got a 9.75, and I felt so incredibly special. </p>
<p>My professor knows I work hard and knows that I’m serious about the subject, but that’s just not enough. I’ve gotta be BRILLIANT to earn my 10. I won’t get a 4.0, but I’ll be proud of what I get because I’m truly trying my best. </p>
<p>Similarly, sometimes professors grade you on an individual basis. I have a classmate who really struggles with French but who scores 8s and 9s on her writings. If you compare her 9 and my 9.5, they’re miles apart, but her 9 is pretty good for what she can do. I’m not saying this is a good thing to do, but I do see it happen a lot.</p>