You Don’t Need Straight A’s in College

You may have aspirations to get good grades in college, but don’t stress it. Blogger Jon Morrow writes on the Brazen Careerist why it’s not worth focusing on top-notch marks.

Jon argues many different points that you should think about post-college. Here they are in condensed form.

Your GPA really doesn’t matter after you graduate. Jon says that nobody asked him about his GPA once he graduated. Sure, some employers do, but it won’t make-or-break job opportunities if you meet other qualifications. If you have the work experience, your GPA is just a number.

Study much? You won’t sleep. If you’re aiming for straight As, you’re probably going to work really hard and never sleep. College is more about academics. It’s about learning among your peers, building your network, and getting job experience. There’s more to college than just academics.

You’ll forget everything after school is over. Okay, not everything, but you won’t need to know the intricate details about mitochondria or the Depression. You won’t need to know every little aspect about John Milton’s Paradise Lost either. You’ll learn this, you’ll be quizzed and possibly tested on it, but after school is over, it’s about the experience you gained while taking exams and doing your homework.

The exception to the rule: If you’re going to graduate school, your grades will matter. But don’t forget the important things like building up relationships and getting pertinent graduate study and work experience in the interim.

Ask yourself: “what’s the most effective use of my time?” Do you want to look back on college and feel like you’ve missed out on some exciting opportunities? If you’re still in school, don’t let grades take over your academics. Have fun and build up work experience too.