> But grades aren't important for success, they're important for opportunity. A fair distinction, yes. > The student with lower grades may lose out on some op

> But grades aren't important for success, they're important for opportunity. A fair distinction, yes. > The student with lower grades may lose out on some opportunities, or only get access to them later, but if they've gained better understanding (while a student) of the material, they'll be better off in the long run than the person acing every test and homework, primarily by cramming and forgetting in a week. I'd like to believe this, but I don't think it's true. Prestige, connections, and opportunity costs are too significant to ignore. > Once you get a job, your grades barely matter anymore. And after several positions and a few years in the field, no one is likely to ask for your transcript. True, but at a large enough company you'll participate in a performance review system in which you'll regularly be given a literal grade which influences your career trajectory. Goodhart's law comes into effect again.