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<p>It certainly did seem from the book chapter that the B grades, or the academic struggles in class leading to the B grades, were traumatic for those students who were used to being top students in high school.</p>
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<p>However, 1190 from before the recentering is equivalent to 1260 today. Either score is an above median SAT score. Also, if the average millionaire went to college, that itself is more above average in terms of educational attainment than it is now, since fewer people went to college back when the average millionaire (middle age or older) went to college. And 2.92 was a more respectable college GPA back then when there was less grade inflation.</p>
<p>Of course, there are plenty of other things that one needs to be financially successful, and the point that one does not need super-high academic achievement to be so is still valid.</p>