Your writing example does not jive at all with my experience, having recently seen very intelligent kids struggle with the required (no skipping via AP) basic university writing seminars at Ivy League schools.
Further, there's a difference between 'getting by' and actually gleaning the value of the education. People who took analysis and university level linear algebra got much more out of discrete math than I did, even though I scraped out a decent grade.
I've seen similar situations in community college. It's possible to barely pay attention and glide through the whole thing, but there's often a decent education for the taking if you put some work in and engage.
Further, there's a difference between 'getting by' and actually gleaning the value of the education. People who took analysis and university level linear algebra got much more out of discrete math than I did, even though I scraped out a decent grade.
I've seen similar situations in community college. It's possible to barely pay attention and glide through the whole thing, but there's often a decent education for the taking if you put some work in and engage.