Grades in College

Getting the grades you want in college is not a cakewalk. Unfortunately, many students work very hard and still have to explain less than satisfactory grades to their parents and employers.  I’m here to tell you that even though working hard in school is admirable, not getting excellent grades is not the end of the world.  By the same token, getting a 4.0 does not guarantee you a job. 

Employers are looking for young applicants who have displayed leadership, teamwork skills, community involvement in addition to the GPA.  While your grade point average is an indicator of strong work ethic and smarts, employers worth working for will be open-minded enough to realize that traditional education is not for everyone.  

In its Job Outlook 2007 survey, the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 66 percent of employers screen candidates by GPA, and 58 percent of those surveyed said they would be much less likely to hire graduates with a GPA below a 3.0.  If you struggle to get good grades in school, the worst thing you can do is let it get to your self-esteem.  Modern day renaissance man Henry Rollins has a quote that I particularly love- “When you begin to doubt yourself, the real world will eat you alive.”  If you are an average student, seek out internships and get involved in extracurricular activities.  Work on your social and communications skills.  Most importantly, never let it get to your self-esteem.    

Human potential goes far beyond that scope of that number on a 4.0 scale.  If I was an employer, I’d take GPA into consideration, but I would never rule out any candidate because their GPA was too low.  In the grand scheme of things, GPA is important, but not that important.  If you have Valedictorian caliber grades, kudos to you and your hard work.  On the other hand, if you struggle in school, my advice is to never let it get to your head.  Prove that you are just as talented and skilled as anyone else in the job market.