After I became an Extra, there was a time when I felt a little odd
about it. I knew all the test questions, and a lot more, but my
operation skills were really not that good. I also saw some Extras
both before and after I got my ticket who were really really green,
and needed tutoring in some real basics. I mean real operational
basics. The half wave/quarter wave dipole thing is no joke, even if we
make fun of it. The top level should be just that. As many people find
out after they leave college, there is more to life than just taking
tests.

Don't you know it! When I graduated college with a BSEE, I was pretty
much your standard
issue geek/nerd, short on the social skills and ability to handle office
politics. Which doesn't come
up in college at all. But after years of working experience and some
help from various
good friends/mentors, you eventually learn it. In college, if it
doesn't show up on an exam, you
need not learn it to eventually graduate. I have heard that that is not
true for PHD levels,
where social/political skills are vital. Similar skills needed to get
good reviews/ avoid layoffs
from managers in industry. I've been told that I'm less nerdy and
better at the office
politics nowadays. ;-) Not that I'm likely to turn to the dark side
and become a manager

:-)