Grades rant...

Applying to College
1

<p>I read a lot of posts from on here and can't help but feel bad for some of you guys. One of the last posts was a question from someone about getting a C+ and if that would ruin their chances for getting into a good college. Even worse, Ive read about people getting a B and thinking their lives are ruined. In the grand scheme of things, these do not matter. </p>

<p>Why do you guys think grades are so important anyways? </p>

<p>There are fools who can pull off A's, and really bright kids who sometimes get C's and D's. </p>

<p>I know a lot of Ivy League schools consider 80% of your GPA to even be eligible, but I dont think everyone wants to go to an Ivy League school. </p>

<p>I think its also sad how so many of you dont believe in yourselves. I remember when I went to the counselors at my CC and told them where I wanted to transfer to. The guy looks at me and says, "you know they only accept like 2 students a year from here?" It was sad, and kind of funny. Sad because this guy is a counselor who's supposed to be encouraging you, funny because this guy probably couldn't amount to much else other than being a counselor at a CC, and not a very good counselor at that. When I tell people where I want to go, they act like Im crazy. However, it does nothing to the belief I have in myself, I would never let anyone shake my confidence. I have about a 3.5 GPA, while that may not be as high as the other students who wish to transfer to where I want to go, I know my abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. </p>

<p>Some of the greatest leaders in our society were not 4.0 students. I suppose if you are trying to get into a science or math based field, a 4.0 would be ideal, but then again, there are a lot of classes that have nothing to do with what you want to pursue. If you want to major in engineering, and dont do well in Anthropology, I dont see how this matters. Dont get me wrong, I think its important to put forth as much effort into something you do, otherwise its not worth doing it, but if it doesnt work out the way you hoped for it, then move on. </p>

<p>Anyways, I just wanted to share and see what how you guys feel about it. By the way, the school Im trying get into takes GPA into 50%, Essay 35%, and Resume 15% consideration. Since I am a little bit older, and have a little more life experience, I am not so worried about the 3.5 GPA. Im also a business major in case you were wondering. </p>

<p>I guess my point is that, unless you are trying to get into a school where the only thing that matters is grades, then why stress over getting a B or a C?</p>

2

<p>The threads ranting about grades can get annoying on here. While I would never post something on here stressing over making below an A I will try to answer your question.</p>

<p>“Why do you guys think grades are so important anyways?”</p>

<p>Grades are one of the few things that a lot of kids feel that they have COMPLETE control over… even though sometimes we don’t. When you make good marks your peers take notice and IMO it can become an obsession to never fail in front of your peers and ultimately yourself because you haven’t met the extreme standards that you set. Success is different from person to person and some students feel that they are only successful when they make straight A’s. Then when they don’t it is a huge failure and that is why I think people rant on these threads. Not to be annoying but because they honestly feel that they have failed. Whether its that they’ve failed themselves or their parents they mentally can’t see a B as being good. Look at it as grades and academic achievements as someone’s “sport”. While some do stress over grades because of college a lot of us stress because we know we can get an A and in our mind to be successful we must achieve that A. No one wants to be unsuccessful right? So yeah I just wanted to throw that out there because I see where you’re coming from but I also understand why some kids feel devastated when that sub-A grade is on the report card.</p>

3

<p>I have never put much stock in grades and the hardest thing about this freshman year of college for ME as a parent is not having the parent teacher conferences. I was fine with whatever grades my kids got/get as long as I knew from the teacher that they were putting their best efforts forward and we’re being a positive member of the class. If I knew kid was working hard and doing his best than the grade was irrelevant for the most part since MOST teachers are fair in that regard. On the other hand… s was absolutely plagued with a B+ as year end grades in Math for three years running even if he’d get an A- for a quarter or two. At one point (whether it be the mid term, final or ?) he’d blow something and end up with the B+ for the year. I knew he was working hard, the teachers knew he was working hard and doing well but S was livid. He was determined to get that final A. Senior year… all is said and done as far as college admissions goes and he pulled an A- for the year. Seriously… there is not much difference between an A- and a B+, but of all of son’s accomplishments he felt vindicated in some way by this one. It came at a time when it meant the least AND yet, it meant a lot. Go figure.</p>

4

<p>Of course grades aren’t the end of the world, even in the admissions process. But they are incredibly important, especially in the realm of competitive college admissions–this is, after all, a college forum. While the difference between an A and a B+ may be negligable, the difference between an A and a C is not. And for many of us, a good college is an opportunity to launch ourselves into the career and lifestyle of our choice (no, I’m not disadvantaged, but I don’t want my parents’ lives). </p>

<p>I do agree with the gist of your post–that grades aren’t an accurate measure of intelligence or future success. We’ve seen this evidenced on this forum a thousand times, with students rejected from their top schools who go on to get Rhodes scholarships at UChic or a state school, or who find their passion as a doctor/lawyer/writer/whatever and achieve that goal through the school they did get into. But a good college can certainly contribute to future success, especially the more prestigious schools with established alumni networks.</p>