Nearly all college students have heard one or more of their professors utter the dreaded phrase, “If you are only in this class for an easy A, you should leave.”
While professors would like for every student to care more about the overall content and subject matter of a class than a grade, it just isn’t realistic in the college setting.
Students who love finding all A’s on their transcript at semester’s end are often pinned as grade-grubbers. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
In high school, my entire life revolved around getting the highest grade possible in every subject. This mostly stemmed from wanting an array of university and scholarship options before even applying.
When I began college courses I thought my constant want and need for perfect grades would subside. It did not.
I quickly realized that even though I no longer needed to be accepted into a great college, I still craved A’s in every class no matter the subject. I also realized I still needed and wanted phenomenal grades to use in scholarship applications, future graduate school applications, possible internship opportunities and an all-around exceptional GPA.
Many students don’t just apply for scholarships their first year of school and bank on that money for the rest of their college career. Just as much as I study for tests and write essays throughout the year, I search for scholarships that are compatible with my GPA. There are almost endless opportunities for scholarship money, but those who receive the most awards often have remarkable transcripts.
One of the largest grade-based scholarships given through the University of Idaho to in-state residents, the Idaho Platinum Scholarship, requires each student to maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA throughout their entire college career. If students aren’t hungry for better-than-average grades in their classes, GPAs easily slip and large sums of money can be at stake.
The best rationale for professors to voice the dreaded phrase that after a student graduates no one cares about their grades, just their knowledge and skill level. Even though knowledge and skill are important, graduate schools do care about grades. In fact, grades are what the institution will care about the most. If students don’t strive for high grades, based on the fear that they are becoming too much of a grade-lover, then they won’t be very competitive in the graduate school application process.
Internships are also largely important for most students. However, many internship opportunities arise due to a high GPA. Students who have little to no job experience must rely on good grades to obtain such opportunities.
In the first or second year of college, required classes are an inevitable factor. Required classes that pertain little to one’s major or minor can garner less attention than classes within the students’ chosen discipline. However, many students would rather not lose critical GPA points over a class that might one day help during a game of trivia — not their career. An English student might find new knowledge in a required biology class, and an engineer major might gain some insight into the art world by taking a required lower level photography class. In the end, both students will still probably care most about securing an A in the class to allow wiggle room for harder courses that actually concern their major.
Classes and curriculum are always most beneficial when they challenge students. But is a class or subject really advantageous when there is no clear path to a good grade or when the professor asks their students to care more about the subject than their GPA?
To obtain a high grade in any class, students must put in hard work. So what does it matter if the subject matter sticks with the student forever?
Students who want and need a high grade in their classes should never feel ashamed or quelled by professors for simply achieving grade success in college.
Hailey Stewart
can be reached at
arg-opinion.uidaho.edu