How Much do Grades Matter?
When it comes to college admissions and scholarship applications, grades are a huge focus. But how important are those grades in the grand scheme of things? Grades are important for three main reasons. You have to weigh for yourself how important each one is. If your grades are less than stellar, you can
compensate for low grades by doing other things.
GPA for College Admissions
GPA is the gatekeeper for college admissions, meaning that it is used mainly to screen applicants out of the process. Many schools set a basic GPA threshold, below which they are very unlikely to consider a candidate. Then they use the other pieces of the application, such as essays, letters of recommendation, etc. to further evaluate candidates. The good part of this is that if your GPA is only average, you may still be able to impress the admissions committee with strong essays and other materials.
GPA for Scholarship Applications
Scholarship applications are very much like admissions applications, at least for academic merit-based scholarships. For other scholarships based on financial need, athletics, heritage, or hobbies/interests, GPA is usually less important in the process.
GPA for Yourself
Most importantly, if GPA is important to you, then it matters. Many students feel a sense of accomplishment by achieving high grades. Some students don't feel that GPA is an accurate representation of their abilities or passions. You have to decide for yourself how important your GPA is to you.