In summary, what are your thoughts on what it takes to be successful?

[Jehanne]

Some jobs require degrees, with or without licensure, while other jobs require certifications; but all jobs, with few exceptions (even entry-level jobs), require experience. Once you've checked the necessary boxes, no one cares about your grades. As a practicing engineer, I would say that my success is one-third my productivity, one-third maintaining amiable & professional relationships with my coworkers and one-third having a sponsor in upper management who is there to protect my job, as long as I fulfill #1 & #2. Not having #3 can, in some instances, be even worse than not fulfilling #1 and #2.