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Wrong. If he got into Harvard Law by being less than stellar as an undergraduate then it's still a reflection on his quality as a student. That a school would overlook such shortcomings because of factors other than academic excellence doubly underlines his shortcomings.

Some students do poorly in high school or college due to a variety of reasons. Some of these people excel in graduate school. So, of course mediocre college grades are a reflection of the academic quality of the college years. There can be mitigating factors. I know one student who went from academic probation at U of Chicago to stellar grades. He'd never make the honor roll due to his early performance. I knew one fellow who got straight "A"s at the same University (which was NOT known for grade inflation) largely due to his excellent ability to schmooze and come up with amazingly creative excuses. (He is a serious success in the business world right now.) Some people have personal problems and grow out of them. Some of them mature while in college. Schools like Harvard and Yale will sometimes be suspicious of the perfect 4.00, if it doesn't appear that the student "doesn't have a life."

I am not trying to be an apologist for Obama, I jsut remember the same kinds of things being said about Justice Thomas, and it's not where I would put my energies. Finally, my own experience was that the students with the best grades were rarely the smartest or the most creative. They worked hard, and they figured out what the teacher wanted. That's wonderful, but it isn't necessarily the only thing that a law school or an executive position requires.

They worked hard, and they figured out what the teacher wanted. That's wonderful, but it isn't necessarily the only thing that a law school or an executive position requires.

It's telling, then, that in addition to not having these things, Barack doesn't have anything else that a law school or an executive position requires. On a U of C note, I know one undergrad from Hong Kong who finished in 2 years.

“Wrong. If he got into Harvard Law by being less than stellar as an undergraduate then it’s still a reflection on his quality as a student. That a school would overlook such shortcomings because of factors other than academic excellence doubly underlines his shortcomings.”
Any specifics? Or are we just positing options?