My views on ze education system

NOTE: THIS IS A RANT. IT PRAISES MYSELF SKY HIGH....WATCH OUT...

well..

earlier today... I was discussing education and types of students with V.... and I told her.. I considered myself to be an average student. Considering that I was, unashamedly, one of the toppers in my school till 10th grade, it was a revelation for me. 11th and 12th grades taught me a lot....given the kind of competition I faced. I never really did as good as I thought I was. Even at Purdue... I just scraped through some classes (Though I did manage to get many A's). And having friends with 4.0's doesnt really help. An online IQ test revealed that I was moderately above average.

So..I was thinking... why is that the case. Was I dumber than I thought I was? Has my intelligence deteriorated since I was a kid? I wonder..

I also wonder... has this got anything to do with my increased interest in social life?

Sometimes....I also realize.. my methodology of study is not suited for examinations. I study the subject... I dont like doing practice problems. I feel, if I know the theory, I should be able to solve problems. So..I read the theory... understand it as best as I can.. and apply it. But... most of the classes I take now...require me to know how to solve particular kinds of problems. The professors just repeat problems from old homeworks... and exams. So.... if I had done my practice problems... I would be able to solve it. However, if I knew the theory taught to me in class and through my homeworks...I would not be able to solve the problem immediately.This has let me down many times recently. EE438 comes to mind as a perfect example. I knew the theory... but made simple mistakes.... mathematical mistakes.... mistakes in simplification as I did not know that particular kind of simplification... and that made me do badly in some exams.
This becomes especially disconcerting when I understand everything happening in class. I understand what the prof is teaching... and occasionally... am even answering questions in class (Though I wonder if the locals tend to keep quiet even if they know the answers..)

So...I dont know ... am I wrong in wanting to learn only the subject and not study "For Exams"? I have done studying for exams for certain classes (EE414 comes to mind in recent times). I simply used my formula sheet to tackle the entire class and I managed to do just fine...Or should I do both? Work harder..?? I AM lazy. Dont get me wrong..I do my work. I do my homeworks... and I attend class regularly. But I am not the one to sit day in and day out solving practice exams and practice problems. I wonder...if I will ever be able to change myself. I have only become lazier since my 11th and 12th grades... but I believe I have learnt more outside classes than inside classes since then.

I guess this is just a confused rant. Forgive me if you read through it all....