@shipsarecool - No doubt, grades are very important and academic achievement usually means “good grades.” What the others are pointing out to you is that a good college education includes more than just going to class, studying, taking tests and “achieving” good grades. A young adult is expected to grow and expand his/her horizons during this time period in many, many other ways. He/she is expected to become a truly independent, interesting and contributing adult, who has experienced successes and, yes, failures that teach their own lessons. A good student might explore classes in unfamiliar subjects that could result in lesser grades, but greater understanding of the world and how it works. A desirable hire might have engaged in extracurricular activities that exposed him/her to other viewpoints and ways of doing things that had not previously been considered.
A true education involves more than just the obtaining of grades, i.e. “trophies.” A true education renders one a better and more useful person in a myriad of ways, and grades are just one reflection of that growth.
This is why you should not say that “grades” were your number one priority in college. It would be better to state that your number one priority was to become a truly learned person so that you could be a better _____ (whatever you are studying to be). The way to become a better_____ is to take advantage of the many activities, opportunities and experiences that are available to you at your college. To say you are focused solely on grades makes you sound like a trained monkey. Employers are looking for personality, maturity and an eagerness to take on challenges, and these qualities are not typically acquired in the classroom.