Friday, April 22, 2011

Does Academic Success depend more on Hard Work than on Intelligence?

A student's academic success depends more on hard work than on intelligence.
Describe a specific situation in which a student's academic success might depend more on intelligence than on hard work. Discuss what you think determines whether a student's academic success depends more on hard work or on intelligence.
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In general, high school students must excel in certain criteria in order to compete for spots in the most prestigious universities. This involves, among others, achieving a high grade point average, high standard exam scores, and demonstrating involvement in extra curricular activities. If academic success is defined by the ability to gain entrance into a prestigious university, then that depends, as a whole, more on hard work than on intelligence. Certain factors of the admissions criteria, however, indicate level of intelligence than preparation.

In general, schools stress the skill of rote memorization as key to achieving high grades on tests. While some students may have the gift of remembering facts immediately, others who aim for high grades can study relentlessly and for hours to master concepts requiring memorization. Rote memory, no doubt a useful skill in life, is emphasized in tests partly due to teachers lacking motivation to present more creative exams---for example, exams that rely more on the critical thinking or problem solving skills of students. More often than not, success in tests requiring rote memorization depend on the student's ability to focus on studying. However, achieving academic success is not ALL about hard work; certainly, students need a certain amount of intelligence to receive straight As in high school.

As a criteria of college admissions, standardized exam scores reflect intelligence more so than hard work. A person of average intelligence can spend an inordinate amount of time preparing for a test. However, he will not have a chance of achieving a competitive score. On the other hand, a person of high intelligence can take only one prep exam and then score high on the real test. These type of tests do not require students to memorize certain data but rather assess abilities to think analytically and logically on the spot. Standard exam scores provide admission officers with a means of comparing applicants from an objective point of view. On the other hand, the measure of GPA is rather subjective in that schools differ as far as criteria for testing and other factors. For example, achieving a 4.0 GPA in School A might be equivalent to achieving a 3.5 GPA in School B due to the latter's rigorous curriculum and focus on analytical thinking rather than rote memory.

Indeed, achieving academic success is a rather subjective concept. This essay has defined it in terms of gaining admission to prestigious universities. However, it could also mean gaining critical thinking skills necessary to supporting one's self in life (which doesn't necessarily entail graduating from a good university). Both definitions involve one utilizing both intelligence and hard work to achieve higher goals. As stated above, perseverance and focus is sometimes more important than pure mental horsepower in achieving tasks. However, to optimize one's chances of realizing a goal, it is necessary to make full use of one's intelligence and ability to work hard.

4 comments:

  1. This is a possible question for my entrance exam to the faculty I am currently applying for (Education).Thanks for your thoughts - I never looked at the topic from that perspective.. as I am from Canada and we do not have SATS or anything like that in high school!

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  2. Yeah, totally right Rebecca, I am doing a essay on success in life depends upon intelligence

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  3. Hey I live in Canada too where about do you live Rebecca

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  4. Thank you so much for the essay samples! I am planning to take PCAT in the fall, and had no idea how to start my essay.

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