Over the course of your life did you find that you studied more for grades or for comprehension of the material?

One of my biggest regrets is that I was so focused on route memorizing the material for my classes in high school that I believed I missed the bigger picture. Does anyone else feel the same way?

16 Comments
 

Don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Genuinely trying to comprehend the material really should translate to deeper knowledge and thus better grades.

 

I partly agree. I do believe they are not mutually exclusive. However, it is far from a positive linear relationship between the two variables. This ofc, varies from class to class. I believe OP brings up a sad, nevertheless, a true point, that as a student you are sometimes forced to choose between highest grade or comprehension of the material.

I think the problem can be recognized throughout most countries' education system from high school throughout university.

 

Hopefully not the only person that assumed this influx of students were some type of bot designed to generate content/garbage?

 
Best Response

with some of the mandatory graduation courses as an exception (looking at you urban engineering class) i have never taken a course or read any book that it didn't genuinely peak my interest and that I was very much into learning more about the topic. I was always genuinely interested in exploring new subjects so I really enjoyed all my classes.

When the teachers said we needed to read something I thought was boring I would read something else and do a thorough report on that. it took some time but eventually they came around as it was easier to just accommodate me than to constantly try and make me do something else (at one point my dad told the principal to fuck himself and to stop calling him with bull shit complaints).

In college I studied econ as I love how it is a collection of many of the other subjects (math, psychology, geography, sociology, finance, politics etc.). I also took a lot of various elective courses in political science and philosophy especially those classes where it was encouraged to debate the ideas and issues (i sat in the back and was very vigorous with my beliefs so all 300 students in a given class were usually well acquainted with me and my ideals - I also engaged other students vigorously on their ideas) as I tend to be very outspoken and have no qualms about calling bull shit on someones half baked idea (don't think you can do that anymore thanks to safe spaces and all that shit).

A lot of students told me afterwards that they would read up and really prepare their opinions to make sure that they could hold their own if i targeted their argument in class and especially if they challenged my assertions. I made some good friends that way and those were my favorite classes and my approach was not one sided, i changed my own view many times because of new information I learned during a debate - if you are not willing to do that, there is no hope.

Bottom line: i enjoyed every minute of learning and i can tell you 100% bull shit free that because I was genuinely interested in my study topic learning came naturally and I never crammed for an exam one hour in my life whereas a lot of my friends didn't sleep for days during mid-terms and final exams. You don't need to love what you do just have an interest for learning and be willing to fight for your opinions and call others on their BS and that is what makes learning, and indeed life, fun. if we loose that we are all fucked.

"I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. " -GG
 

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