Years ago, I was freaking out because a “B” in art class (ART CLASS!) was killing my perfect grade point average (GPA). I was in my freshman year. I had hopes of graduating at the top of my class. I wanted to get a great scholarship to a great college. But a simple art class was making my dream go down the drain, like so much unused watercolor paint.

It wasn’t the end of my college plan, however. With a lot of hard work, I took the college prep courses and made decent grades. I didn’t get a 4.0, but I did manage to graduate in the top 10% of my class and I still went to college.

The truth is that grades are not the only means by which students are measured, but they do matter in certain circumstances. If you want to play it smart ? and if you plan to go to college ? you need to know how, where, and why high school grades are important.

High School
The grades you make in high school, contrary to popular opinion, do not end up in your “permanent record.” Getting a C in trigonometry isn’t going to doom you to a life of minimum wage manual labor.

The real strength of a GPA is what it says about your ability to learn. A good GPA will usually translate to good test scores on the SAT or ACT. Like your GPA, these tests are valuable when trying to get into the college of your choice.

Applying to Colleges
Although it varies by institution, it’s safe to say that if your GPA is below a 2.0 you may have trouble getting into the college you want. Many colleges and universities post the GPA requirements for undergraduate admissions on their web sites. Keep in mind that most institutions are interested in more than statistics. If your GPA is only a 3.5, but you exhibit qualities of leadership, creativity and work ethic, you may look better than someone with a 3.8.

Getting Scholarships
Most merit-based scholarships look at your GPA. Some research of several scholarships in my home state supported this. Many scholarships required applicants to have a minimum GPA of 3.0. One stated that the average applicant has a GPA of 3.90. So, if you hope to earn scholarships to pay for college, get your grades up.

College
Once you make it to college, your struggle to keep up your GPA is not over. Aside from keeping any merit-based scholarships you have, there are other reasons to keep up your GPA.

Avoiding Academic Probation
We all know those stories about freshmen who flunked out after the first semester. It isn’t always at the party schools or the high-stress Ivy Leagues, either. A poor GPA can lead to academic suspension anywhere. Keep up your GPA, and you won’t have to worry.

Picking a Major
Many universities have different requirements for their majors. In other words, if you want to get into the business program at college, your undergraduate GPA may need to be higher than if you wanted to be a theatre major.

Applying to Graduate School
Many graduate schools are even more selective than undergraduate programs. If you plan to get a Master’s degree, a high GPA in college will help open doors. Your GPA needs to be stellar if you want to attend a dream school like Yale Law or Harvard Medical School.

The Real World
When the only experience on your resumé is your academic transcript, employers will look at your GPA to see a snapshot of who you are. A good GPA tells employers that you can set goals and accomplish tasks. Be sure to include your GPA on your resumé, because many employers will consider its absence to mean it is low.

Nevertheless, don’t be shy about including a low GPA on your resumé. Emphasize your academic strengths as much as possible. Another suggestion is to include the GPA in your major if it is significantly higher. Some employers are more interested in your work toward your chosen field than your overall academic picture.

Keep in mind that a GPA is merely a reflection of your studies. It’s a scorecard, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Don’t let your GPA drive you crazy, but have a healthy respect for how it will affect your college plans and beyond.

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