If you’ve ever seen your grades at the end of a semester and panicked about how they would affect your GPA, you’re not alone. The question is, how does GPA actually matter in college, and does it have any effect on your life after college?
“While in college, a GPA can affect many aspects of a student's life. For example, oftentimes there are GPA requirements for admission into academic programs, especially academic programs with a competitive admission process,” Amanda Spencer, director at the University of Academic Advising said.
Spencer said the GPAs can affect a student’s eligibility to receive scholarships and financial aid. If you receive below a 2.0 for multiple semesters, you can be dismissed from the university completely.
“Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisors if they have any questions about their GPA,” Spencer said.
Assistant Director and Advisor of the Career Center, Lisa Duke believes that after college, GPA is relevant only in the first job search you begin after graduating.
“Potential employers may have a GPA requirement of new graduates based upon the career field yet other employers may be more focused on the degree received and the knowledge level and transferable skills of the student,” Duke said, continuing to say that while students should always strive for the highest GPA possible, “I truly believe a low GPA can be overcome in other ways. Many employers do value a high GPA but a GPA doesn’t tell the complete story of a candidate. An employer will want to know what else can be brought to the organization. Potential employers always look at the “total package” of each candidate that applies.
If you plan to attend a graduate school after receiving your undergraduate degree, a low GPA can affect the difficulty of getting into a school or program.
“My personal advice is to do as well as you possibly can when it comes to coursework but try not to obsess or stress over it. Get involved on campus, find meaningful volunteer opportunities, look for employment experiences that will let future employers know you are a well-rounded student with a lot of transferable skills that can be an asset to their organization,” Duke shared.
This means that you shouldn’t let a bad grade or a grade that isn’t “A’s and B’s” take over your mind, because you will still receive your degree as long as everything else falls into place.
