Success in life is not defined by academic grades even though good grades will not hurt. The fact is this: a person can make As in a university-life-phase and still fail drastically in a professional-life-phase. While the phase-exams are different, behind them are clear relationships: process. It is safer to hire an A student than a C student as the A student had demonstrated the ability to set goals (every student desires to make good grades) and accomplished them.
The key thing is not the A but the process that leads to the A. Simply, if you hire that A-student graduate, and he/she continues to apply those principles, there is a high chance he can deliver A performance in the company.
In other words, the A means nothing; it is the process that matters. That process includes activity prioritization, dedication, focus, time management, etc which the student had elegantly managed to get A. Yes, he may not be the smartest student in class. The smartest student had been overwhelmed, failing to manage his time, and ended with B.
Ndubuisi Ekekwe