While I agree that there is more to a student than their GPA or test score, it worries me that students might be getting the message that these things don’t matter because there are many pieces to the high school puzzle that lead into future opportunities, and a lot of that rests on GPA and test scores.
Let’s start with GPA. Your Grade Point Average is the simple calculation of the value of the grades you have earned from the start of high school through your final day of senior year.
Many students make the mistake of not focusing on grades or classes until junior or senior year when they start thinking about post-high school plans. The problem there is that by then half the time you have to prepare is gone. We meet with so many seniors each year who are frustrated with the fact that they didn’t realize how important everything was at the beginning of high school. “I wish I would have known” or “I wish I had taken this more seriously” or “I wish someone had told me.”
If a student is looking to go to college, your GPA matters. GPA is one of four factors used when determining your admission eligibility to a college or university,
For example, the three Regent universities in Iowa use the Regents Admission Index or RAI Score to determine eligibility. A student must have a 245 or higher to be admitted. The RAI Score helps determine if a student is adequately prepared and ready for the rigors of college academics. Click here to calculate your current RAI score.
The GPA is part of the calculation so the higher your GPA, the higher your RAI Score and the more likely you are to be admitted. The direct correlation here is that the better you do in your classes, the better your grades, and the better prepared you are for college level classes.
In addition to the GPA, the RAI Score uses ACT score, class rank, and the number of core classes a student takes in its calculation. It’s all about preparation for the next step. So yes, GPA matters.
Now that’s not to say you have to be a 4.0 student to go to college, but a solid GPA goes a long way in making sure you are successful in your next venture.
Your GPA is part of the story you tell about yourself. It’s an accomplishment and can be a bridge to great opportunities, like scholarships. There are many scholarships, both private and institutional, that focus on academic success. The harder you work and the higher your GPA, the more likely you are to qualify for those opportunities.
Finally, your GPA helps prepare you in so many other ways for things you’ll face in college, and in your career. A solid GPA shows hard work and dedication to a task. Even in a class that you struggle through, your determination to do well, to seek out assistance, and to master the problem in front of you shows grit. Grit is something employers are looking for. Employers want problem solvers. They want someone who can think through a task, who will ask questions when needed, and who has the tenacity and drive to be successful.
There are many things that make you successful. Your extra-curricular activities and community involvement are important. Your devotion to family and friends, to your interests are important. You have to figure out what makes you tick, where your passion lies. However, there are universal factors that will help you reach your goals and be successful – your GPA is one of them.
Brittania - ICAN Hiawatha Center
