Will "Average Work Ethic" hold me back from top schools?

LoremIpsum
Sun, 17 Apr 2011 22:11:38 +0000

While he has never told me that I am in the same boat, it is clear that I don’t put in the same amount of effort that many students in the class do because it all just comes naturally to me (sorry to sound arrogant but it is true).



I suppose it depends on if you are acing nearly every test or just managing low A’s while saving yourself extra effort. If you’re acing the tests, the amount of time it takes you at home is irrelevant – it’s not your fault that the pace of instruction is too slow for you.

My son is also a naturally-gifted math and science learner: he looks at it once and he’s done and ready to move on. He’s never ever studied for a high school math or science test and couldn’t care less if major tests were given randomly and unannounced. He got 2 killer letters of recommendation.

Note, however, that he also taught himself 4 AP math and science subjects in his spare time just for fun, and participated in his school’s Math Team competitions. So there was clear evidence in his case of going above and beyond outside the classroom.