On one side, I just want to get a degree with a 3.0 GPA. On the other side, my parents want more than just a 3.Now here's the thing. I program with a passion. I spend day and night programming. And I ace all my programming courses. However, I do terrible on all my elective courses -- such as writing, history, and all that stuff -- which only leaves me with a 3.1 to 3.2 GPA. And my parents want more.They think that university is like high school, where you need super-stellar grades to get to the next level. But they don't realize that good enough grades will land me a job.And they don't realize that a programmer needs to practice to become good at programming, and that having good skills is what will land a job in a nice software development company.Thankfully, though, they don't threaten to beat me with a baseball bat or anything like that. They just occasionally give me the little tsk-tsk. But even that little tsk-tsk makes me feel guilty for opening up an IDE. And on top of that, I procrastinate because of that feeling of guilt.So now, I want to come clean with them. I want to know what's a good way to do that.[Edit]OK, so now, I realized, I should aim for higher grades, as some have suggested below.
How do I tell my parents that landing a job is what actually counts?
education;personal projects;professional development
Ok, I was the same way. All I wanted to do was program, and I was doing ok in my other classes so I didn't care. However, to get your choice of jobs you should do as well as you can. If you have a specific field you want to get in to, they will be looking for the best students. Studying hard and getting good grades even in subjects that don't matter to your career shows diligence. This work ethic will translate into strong performance at a job, since you've learned to discipline yourself.Employers don't want people who float. They want employees who in the time they work for the company will work hard and get things done! The only indicator they have of this in new graduates really is their GPA. High CS grades and lower other grades tend to indicate that the person only works hard on things they like. An average IT programmer doesn't always get to do fun stuff. For example, I don't like to deal with databases, but my current job often requires me to hunt down discrepancies in the database. It's not a fun job; I'd much rather be bug hunting or coding new apps. But it has to be done, and done just as well as your favorite work!I'd encourage you to set your sights high. Do your best, and that will help ensure a great first job and set the tone for a solid career.