Common sense tells us that students who dedicate themselves to their studies and graduate with top grades—17, 18, or even higher—are guaranteed well-paid, prestigious jobs. However, reality is quite different. Most jobs require a degree, but grades tend to be of secondary importance. When you graduate, the most important factors for success will be your knowledge, skills, and competencies.

Below, we list the reasons why students who barely passed their degree or master’s can also achieve great success in life:

1 – They Know What They Want Sooner Than OthersThey often skip mandatory classes that they deem unnecessary and focus only on subjects that they believe will truly contribute to their growth. The great entrepreneur Steve Jobs never finished college but became a leader in the tech industry by focusing on what he truly loved. In his famous Stanford speech, he said: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. Keep looking, don’t settle.”

2 – They Gain First-Hand ExperienceMost average students start working before their classmates, which sometimes affects their grades since they miss classes to work. However, they gain valuable experience that top students might miss out on. And as we all know, work experience is highly valued in the job market.

3 – They Build Strong and Diverse NetworksWhile high-achieving students are focused on mastering academic content, students with average grades are reading practical books and socialising with dozens of people daily. In the real world, knowing influential people and having strong communication skills can make all the difference in a career.

4 – They Enjoy LifeThey go to parties and may arrive at class the next day ready for a nap, but they embrace life fully. This happiness carries over into their professional lives. Happy people are often more successful because they are friendly and work well in teams. Employers value team players who contribute to a positive work environment. On the other hand, even highly intelligent but negative and stressed individuals rarely top the list of desirable candidates.

5 – They Find the Simplest SolutionsBill Gates is among many successful people who can’t boast about their academic grades. Yet, he built Microsoft and became one of the most successful individuals in the world. Gates has an open mindset and, unlike others, does not place excessive value on diplomas or grades. For him, creativity is what truly matters. In his own words: “I will always choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”

6 – They Follow Their DreamsEnjoying what you do is crucial for success. Many students enter university at a young age without fully understanding what they should prioritise. It’s important to realise that you are not bound by the choice you made at 17 or 18—or worse, the choice made for you by your parents. Take Elizabeth Holmes, the youngest self-made billionaire, as an example. She revolutionised medicine, but first, she dropped out of Stanford. She left one of the world’s most prestigious universities to follow her dream.