Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr. White 
That might be how most people would measure intelligence or ambition, but it's zero indication of brilliance. I'd put it the other way. A guy who worries a lot about doing well on ordinary measures of intellect -- has an ordinary intellect. If he were brilliant, he'd be solving problems that the ordinary smart hangers-on didn't know existed to be solved.
Ummm.... Matt certainly didn't worry about "doing well on ordinary measures of intellect." He didn't have to worry about it at all, he just did it, seemingly without effort. Also, you'll note I said he got his doctorate in three years, which requires at least some theoretical work (that is, working on new problems), and now he's in research....doing what? Solving new and unique problems. So I'd counter that though GPA might not be a
measure of brilliance (and I didn't claim it was), it certainly does not provide "zero indication" of brilliance. Brilliant people may have poor GPAs, but commonly (at least in the sciences) brilliant people have excellent GPAs. ~ H