You worked really hard in high school to get into a good college. Now that you have achieved your goal, you may be wondering if you can take it easy in college and let your grades slip a bit.
If you are curious about how much grades actually matter in college, here is your answer:
Do Grades Really Matter in College?
Yes, grades do matter in college – you need to maintain a certain GPA so that you can remain enrolled in college and grad schools and future employers will look at your GPA as well as your grades before choosing you for a position.
Why Do Grades Matter in College?
Just passing a class now and then may not feel like such a big deal, particularly cause most professors won’t get on your case.
However, the college administration will take notice of low grades, even if they are considered a passing grade. With every low grade that you get, your GPA will continue to drop.
Now, be mindful of the fact that most colleges have a minimum GPA requirement. If you fail to meet this requirement or if your grades drop dangerously low, you will be placed on academic probation.
When this happens, you are given a period of time to pull your grades up. If you fail to do this, you may be academically dismissed from your university. The exact repercussions can vary from one college to another, though.
When you are placed on academic probation, you may have to comply with certain restrictions. For instance, you may be prevented from joining certain clubs or organizations. You may be forced to follow a stricter schedule as well.
Why You Should Pay Attention to Grades in College
College is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. Thus, the main reason to get good or decent grades is so that you aren’t throwing that money away.
Keep in mind that if you are on any kind of scholarship or are receiving financial assistance, you have to maintain good grades. If you fail to do this, your scholarship or assistance will be taken away.
Good grades are also important if you are planning on going to graduate school. The application process will take a look at your overall GPA and the grades that you got for individual classes as well. If the score is too low, you may not be accepted.
If you are in a competitive field or are looking for a job, then your college grades will matter. Employers will not only consider your grades, they will also compare it to other applicants. If you fall short, it can be harder for you to get hired.
Will Poor College Grades Always Be an Issue for You?
As long as you keep your grades just high enough to graduate, poor college grades will not necessarily haunt you.
This is especially true if you are going to be starting your own business or working in a non-competitive field. And, naturally, if your job is different from your college major then grades will not be much of an issue for you.
Also, as time goes by and you get older, your college grades will not be counted as much. Most employers will look at your work history, the positions you have held, experience, etc. when hiring you.
Do You Need to Get Excellent Grades in College?
Well, this does depend on a number of factors.
If you are enrolled in a top university, then you may have a higher standard to meet. They may set the GPA requirements higher or simply may expect you to meet certain criteria.
If you are planning on heading to graduate school in a highly competitive environment, then a higher GPA will put you at the top of the list. This is true for jobs in competitive fields as well.
Apart from these instances, getting good grades should be enough. It is best to do some research on this, though.
If you have a particular job in mind, look at the average GPA of most applicants. You will need to meet this or surpass this if you want the best chance at getting a job once you have graduated.
Remember that certain companies have stringent guidelines about college grades and GPAs. If you would like to join a particular organization after graduation, check what its criteria are.
Finally, you should be mindful that every professor is different. As such, each professor will hold you to a different standard. Thus, if you want to pass a class, get a recommendation from the professor, or be considered for an internship, you will need to match their expectations.
Can You Inflate Your GPA with Easy Classes?
One of the simplest ways to get your GPA is to take easy classes that can be passed with minimal study. So, is this something that you should consider to boost your GPA?
Once again, there is no straightforward answer to this question.
For one thing, you have to consider your major. You may be required to take certain courses to meet the criteria. You may find that most of these courses are difficult or, at least, require making an effort.
Even if this isn’t the case, it doesn’t make much sense to take classes that don’t have anything to do with your degree. Take too many of these and you won’t end up learning much at all.
You should be mindful of the fact that grad schools will ask for your college transcripts. As such, they will be able to see a list of the classes that you have taken.
There are also some companies and employers that will ask for transcripts too. Therefore, this is something to think about when choosing your classes.
Is It Important to Get Decent Grades in College?
Yes, grades are important to your college career – they matter while you are enrolled in university as well as when you have graduated – good grades can ensure that you get into the grade school of your choosing or that you are chosen for a well-paying job.
