Decisions. decisions...

Machiavellian b*stard as I am (some just call it "foresight"), I’m considering (deliberately) performing sub-optimally in my first year at college. Of course, if the first year’s heard the bad performance may not be deliberate. But if my scores pick up substantially in my subsequent years I’ll have a lot to brag modestly (oxymoron) about at job interviews.

I notice that psychologically a guy who does badly then pulls his scores up substantially sounds better than a dude who scores well consistently. People like underdog “come from behinds”—especially if the manager interviewing you (and this is likely) wasn’t a straight ‘A’ student from an Ivy college, and who had to claw his way up the hierarchy by sheer hard work. Such a manager might be inclined to disdain brilliant yuppies but may look kindly on fellow “come from behinds”.

Of course, being as consistent as a rock has its brag-points too. If you do well in your first year at college you can brag about being “flexible and highly adaptable”, and cite the brilliant first-year results you achieved despite being barraged with culture shock and new environments.

So, first year at college: score or slump? I have a year to decide…