Why Is Grade Point Average Important

Improved Essays
Grade point average is a metric that measures effort. The amount of effort that a person puts into school is not a measurement of intelligence. There needs to be a culmination of a large number of factors when considering applications for college admissions. There are other factors that must be considered beyond grade point average. Factors like, intelligence, creativity, athletic achievement, and even student personality. Grade point average is a time tested metric. It is an excellent measurement of how much time and effort a person has put into their education, and must be taken into consideration by colleges. It often identifies the students that work hard, and are dedicated to their education. It also does a great job at allowing a student to make up for a past mistake. Because it is an actual mathematic average, if a student gets a failing mark in one class, the opportunity is there for them to work harder and receive exemplary marks in another class to offset the poor mark. This is a very balanced system, and is a major reason that grade point average is a solidly thought out metric and should be …show more content…
Many colleges require students to submit essays along with their application. These essays are an excellent way for the colleges to screen students and make sure the students are the type of students that they search for. Colleges look for more qualities in a student than just the ability to perform academically. Many colleges look for a specific quality in students, such as creativity, community activism, or another similar trait. Athletics must also be mentioned. Many college athletes see their purpose in attending school to be the advancement of their athletic goals, not the pursuance of an education. These students many not qualify in the same way that other students have, simply because they have another aspect of their life that may eclipse the academic goals at certain

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    Professional athletes have dedicated their lives to achieving greatness in competitive sports. The emphasis on athletics has created a focus within the African American community to convince their children to pursue this career path. Unfortunately, it has caused black adolescents to become distracted from reaching their full potential in academics. Young African Americans want or have the need to become an athlete so others can look up to them. Over the years African Americans have become recognized in the media for their achievements in sports.…

    • 1612 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are a lot of on-going debates about the traditional grading system. Many argue that the system deters learning therefore; it should be overhauled and/or reformed. Alfie Kohn, an American author and educator that speaks and writes about education and parenting is very much opposed to the traditional grading system. In his essay “From Degrading to De-Grading”, Alfie Kohn argues against it, he claim that students are so grade driven that it reduces their interest in learning, creativity and preference for challenging tasks. Not only that, it also encourages cheating, disrupt curriculum and waste teachers’ time.…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    First of all, a student could raise their G.P.A. if it was low or if it he was unsatisfied with it. The student could retake a test or two that bring their grade point average down like an anchor on a boat. A student with a higher G.P.A. has better confidence in their learning abilities and will try to maintain a high grade point average. Second of all, Colleges notice when students applying have outstanding grades. When a college is searching for new students, it is searching for the ones who put effort into learning and continuously try to improve themselves.…

    • 822 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When asked about his college athletic career, Kendall Spencer, a former track student-athlete at the University of New Mexico and chair of the national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for Division I, explained and discussed the “student athlete experience” and how it helped him grow and achieve great things (NCAA). Moreover, the NCAA state the following reasons why a young man or woman should participate in college athletics: college education, academic success, scholarships, elite training opportunities, exposure and experiences and preparation for life (NCAA). According to Eitzen (2012), “the most important reason for universality of school sports is the widespread belief that the educational goals are accomplished through sport”. Image hearing these things as a 17 or 18-year-old hoping to star a big time university. These positive attributes easily draw in hundreds, but unfortunately, there are…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    To Grade or Not to Grade? “The real threat to excellence is not grade inflation at all; it is grades.” –Alfie Kohn, The Dangerous Myth of Grade Inflation Sullen-eyed, sleepless zombies stagger throughout the endless corridors. Their minds remain blank, except for their one goal: the biggest, juiciest brains. These brains are what they live for.…

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Other stereotypes/misconceptions that are involved with these athletes are that they are dumb/ignorant jocks. These misconceptions are commonly brought up when talking about college athletes. However, most people do not know how disciplined an athlete has to be to compete at the collegiate level while maintaining the grades to be eligible to play. In the article, Athlete’s struggle against ‘dumb’ jock stereotype, written by Ashley McDonnell, a swim and diving athlete of Brown University by the name of Allyson Schamcher admits, “the dumb jock is totally a stereotype.” Adding to Schamcher’s statement, Leslie Springmeyer, the captain for the field hockey team claims, “There should be more respect for us – we’re doing all the academic work on top…

    • 1299 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    New and different methods are constantly being attempted. Sioux City schools in Iowa use a four point scale, but are thinking that a five point scale may be a more accurate measure (Forbes, 2015). School systems are pressured not only find the best way to grade students but also to grade schools. The majority of US schools are graded on an A-F scale (which has its problems) but some use more unorthodox systems. Some schools in Michigan use a color scale, but because it can be hard to determine ability based off of a color, they are considering changing this.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to ACT, "75 percent of American students who do achieve a high school diploma are not ready for college coursework and often need remedial classes at both the university and community college levels.” (Tennessee's Community College) College commonly looks for SAT scores and GPAs above all else to determine if the student should be considered. Colleges should instead look for more useful traits that make students better for college and the workforce. In Patrick Sullivan's article, Essential Habits of Mind for College Readiness, Sullivan thinks that curiosity/openness, creativity, accountability, humility, and grit are "more vital to college success than, SAT scores or recommended high school course sequences. "Also, I will be shedding my opinion from a college freshman point of view.…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “I think labeling someone’s intelligence with a letter grade isn’t a sign of ability,” stated Katie Kacvinsky(“Best”). Some people say schools should use letter grades because it motivates us to get honorable grades and to keep the tradition. However, it is not as effective since it does not reflect on students’ learning.…

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Book Smart M1

    • 1771 Words
    • 8 Pages

    40% is a HUGE number. It is surprising to read that so many universities allow this. For student to not understand the issue of grade inflation is reasonable, we are young and naïve. But for big universities to sit back and inflate grade know the outcome that these students will not be prepared in the future is mind blowing. “Some have argued that these inflated grades are necessary to help students get ahead in a competitive job market.…

    • 1771 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    College athletes are a part of some of the most hardworking students at a college. They put in lots of time and effort to do what they do. Student athletes are very strong individuals. They balance their grades in school, while maintaining good skill levels in their sports, and also balancing their personal lives and any other clubs that they are in. The problem we encounter today is that most athletes are dropping out and are struggling for financial reasons.…

    • 2010 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Eighth grade is definitely an amazing year; it is your last year in middle school and you have so much ahead of you in highschool! You will have fun with your classmates and teachers, but there also are some bumps in the road to get over first. Here are some helpful pieces of advice just to stay on top of everything, so you enjoy your year! Something I find essential in eighth grade is to stay organized!…

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Weighted GPA System

    • 1834 Words
    • 8 Pages

    High schools in the United States are inconsistent when it comes to GPAs. Some high schools use weighted GPAs and others do not. There are even variances within the weighted GPA systems, such as how many points an honors class is worth within the GPA. Weighted GPAs provide many advantages to not only students, but to the school’s reputation as well. A few of these advantages are: higher consideration from colleges, recognition for hard work, and encouragement of academic improvement.…

    • 1834 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Achieving Long Term Goals

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Being a student is never easy, especially when having to work persistently and being told that the definition of the effort you’ve put in is one number under 5. Having a higher grade point average does not mean the student is better fit for certain elite colleges, a student with a lower GPA and higher work ethic may be able and ready for the hard work involved in college. Having a stronger work-ethic, being persistent, and studying hard is what I believe should get students into colleges. Having an end goal and achieving long term goals will benefit one’s success over time. Making goals to get an A on the test math test will obviously help with the number in the grade book, but once a student has the idea that numbers are what make them smart, the long-term goals are lost.…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The debate of students having to be required to have passing grades is a very difficult one to address either as the student, parent or teacher. I am not here saying that students should not be in sports while attending grade school. But if they are going to play sports, they should also have a grade point average of 2.0 and above to ensure that they don’t lose focus of school academics. First you would need to ask your self what’s the plan you and your child have set for them during and after they are out of high school. If you have a talented child that you believe has a chance to have a career in sports.…

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays