<p>
</p>
<p>Not only will that not go far…the father…as well meaning as he may be…may not realize that describing someone as “a hard worker” is often taken by those in academia as “damning with faint praise” and a sign the applicant is a dull grind lacking the above-average/superstar intellect they feel are better “fits” for their schools/programs. </p>
<p>It’s something several Profs and even past supervisors warned me to be wary of if Profs/supervisors use that phrase to describe me in feedback and performance reviews. </p>
<p>In short…being described as “a hard worker” is short-hand for…great work-ethic…but a possible dullard. In the academic milieu I’ve experienced at my magnet high school…that description would be regarded as the equivalent of saying a C or B student should be awarded a large shiny cookie/award for his/her rather lackluster achievements or for fulfilling minimal acceptable expectations respectively.</p>