Gpa

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Terra Firma' timestamp='1286729580' post='2178939']
I had the same dilemma in grad school and chose to have a life instead of a great GPA. I have not regretted that decision one iota.
[/quote]
One reason I dropped a class my last semester was so I'd have time with friends. Considering that's how I really got to know my husband, I don't regret that one bit.

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='Terra Firma' timestamp='1286729580' post='2178939']
I had the same dilemma in grad school and chose to have a life instead of a great GPA. I have not regretted that decision one iota.
[/quote]

This is really helpful to know. Do you mind me asking what you were doing during grad school? I am getting married during college so I'm interested in these kinds of stories.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Totus Tuus' timestamp='1286809222' post='2179090']
This is really helpful to know. Do you mind me asking what you were doing during grad school? I am getting married during college so I'm interested in these kinds of stories.
[/quote]
Academically, I was pursuing a dual degree in law and Catholic studies.

Personally, I met my husband midway through my second year, and got married midway through my third year. Even if I hadn't been dating/planning a wedding, I still would have opted to spend time with friends and family over getting a 4.0.

It is my opinion that the choices you make while in school are indicative of the choices you'll make in a career. If school is always your top priority, then you're more likely to choose work as your top priority, and that can lead to significant imbalance and cause stress for you and family.

I'm not saying that school and work aren't important pursuits and deserving of attention, and sometimes they do need to come first, but being a well-rounded person means balancing a number of goods in a way that achieves optimal benefit for you and your family. Sometimes that means making a choice to cut back on the investment you make in a particular area.

[Lilllabettt]

I think it really depends what you are wanting to do.

If you plan on pursuing a career in the near future ... well. In this economy, every little bit helps. I know in the corporate world, some HR people get so many resumes for the entry-level positions, they literally sort them by gpa.

Some post-college academic programs really emphasize the g.p.a. Law schools for example ... if you don't have a certain gpa, they will just not look at you. I know a few people who had incredibly stellar LSAT scores, but they have a 3.6 instead of a 3.7, and that very top make-your-life-forever set of schools simply would not open their application. It is frustrating to them that a tenth of a point, on coursework they did 10 years ago, could "hold them back" this way. They have all gotten into really good law schools and will be fine, but yes they wished they'd worked a little harder in college. I think med school is this way too.

It is such a gift to have a "job" where your only responsibility is to learn. To receive an education - wow. That is something that no one can take from you. There is such a wealth of knowledge for the taking at college that I think it is almost a sin of ingratitude not take full advantage of it.

But it really is about maximizing the opportunity ... academic, extracurricular or whatever.

In terms of school, I am never not going to try my best, because I would not be satisfied with anything else. But this semester I am taking a lighter course load because I need to maximize other opportunities - internships, career center, etc. that are available to me only in college. I am taking a couple of exercise classes, because I want to make use of the free gym while I have access to it.

On the other hand, I do not prioritize socializing. I am not at college to socialize, and that is something there will be plenty of time for when I no longer have the incredible privilege of going to school.

[EmilyLange]

Woah, lots of long responses on this one! I would say, first of all, take a deep breath! Everything is going to work out (no matter what you do)!! Jeremiah 29:11! I pinned this verse up on my desk when I was in college and it often helped me to put things in perspective. I bet I'm not that much older than you (I'm 23), so college is still fresh in my mind, and from what you wrote, I think we have a lot in common! (Or that we had a lot in common, when I was in your same position. And probably still do!). I was engaged, a student, had some pretty crazy family stuff going on at home, etc. Also like you, I was always good student capable of straight A's, but unlike you, I think I was always a little more apt to let my grades slip (a bit) so that I could spend time with my fiance, socialize, and generally goof-off. Anyway, just because you are an "A student" does not mean that you MUST always put forth enough effort to get the "A" you are theoretically capable of getting in every class. Yes, you are a student and should do your best, but God is not just calling you to be a student right now, he is also calling you to be married (planning my wedding pretty much consumed my junior year), to evangelize, to spend time each day with Him in prayer, to building relationships, and to taking care of your own physical and mental health! If you cannot do all, or even some of these things, while at the same time maintaining straight A's, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! Just do your best and God will see you through. If you need to back off a little on the school stuff so that you can have more balance in your life, do it. As far as grad school goes, if you're not called to do it, don't! But I should also ask: When are you getting married? Are you planning on staying home with your future children? Especially if you are planning on being a stay-at-home mom (like me), grad school seems pretty irrelevant. If you plan on being a stay-at-home mom, you might be better off just finishing your undergrad and then finding a job that can help you save some money before the kiddos start coming (this is what I did)! But if you are planning on working after you have kids (or must work, out of financial necessity), then that's a different story. You can always go back to school, too, if you want/need to in the future. A lot of it depends on where you and your future husband stand financially. Either way, the main thing is to not worry so much about keeping straight A's. God's plan for your life will not be derailed if you get a B in a couple of classes. Best of luck! I will pray for you!

[sixpence]

I would also consider myself someone quite capable of getting straight A's....
I only actually put forth the effort to make that happen one semester, and yet I had no problem whatsoever getting into any grad school I wanted to.... just sayin' ... don't stress over it unless your trying to go into medicine, vet, or law....and even then..it'll work out!

[Cherie]

[quote name='EmilyLange' timestamp='1286817283' post='2179118']
Especially if you are planning on being a stay-at-home mom (like me), grad school seems pretty irrelevant. If you plan on being a stay-at-home mom, you might be better off just finishing your undergrad and then finding a job that can help you save some money before the kiddos start coming (this is what I did)! But if you are planning on working after you have kids (or must work, out of financial necessity), then that's a different story. You can always go back to school, too, if you want/need to in the future. A lot of it depends on where you and your future husband stand financially.
[/quote]

This is where I came from. When I came out of the convent, I didn't have a college education, so I planned on going back to school. I met my husband and our relationship started to get serious, and well - racking up even [i]more[/i] college debt just didn't seem like a good idea to me, so we talked about it. Since I plan on being a stay-at-home mom, and since my husband's job could support both of us at this point in time, we decided it would be better for me not to go back to school. (I didn't really [i]want[/i] to go back to be honest, but I thought it was something I [i]had[/i] to do). I haven't regretted that one bit, and everything worked out: we're married now, expecting our first baby, and while we're not "well-off" by any stretch of the imagination, my husband's job does support all of us just fine. I guess it really does depend on your circumstances in that regard.

[loveletslive]

recruiters would rather have a well-rounded student with a slightly lower GPA who spent time having fun and getting involved on campus than a student with a 4.0 because that generally indicates you did nothing other than study and worry over your grades. i'm not implying that is what you are like but generally...it's not expected for college students to get all A's and having a 4.0 might actually be a red flag that you don't have a life. especially if you are in a harder major like accounting or biochem...then it's expected you'll get some B's and C's

your GPA only matters for your first job anyway and most recruiters are happy if you have at least a 3.5

Edited October 11, 2010 by loveletslive

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='EmilyLange' timestamp='1286817283' post='2179118']
Woah, lots of long responses on this one! I would say, first of all, take a deep breath! Everything is going to work out (no matter what you do)!! Jeremiah 29:11! I pinned this verse up on my desk when I was in college and it often helped me to put things in perspective. I bet I'm not that much older than you (I'm 23), so college is still fresh in my mind, and from what you wrote, I think we have a lot in common! (Or that we had a lot in common, when I was in your same position. And probably still do!). I was engaged, a student, had some pretty crazy family stuff going on at home, etc. Also like you, I was always good student capable of straight A's, but unlike you, I think I was always a little more apt to let my grades slip (a bit) so that I could spend time with my fiance, socialize, and generally goof-off. Anyway, just because you are an "A student" does not mean that you MUST always put forth enough effort to get the "A" you are theoretically capable of getting in every class. Yes, you are a student and should do your best, but God is not just calling you to be a student right now, he is also calling you to be married (planning my wedding pretty much consumed my junior year), to evangelize, to spend time each day with Him in prayer, to building relationships, and to taking care of your own physical and mental health! If you cannot do all, or even some of these things, while at the same time maintaining straight A's, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! Just do your best and God will see you through. If you need to back off a little on the school stuff so that you can have more balance in your life, do it. As far as grad school goes, if you're not called to do it, don't! But I should also ask: When are you getting married? Are you planning on staying home with your future children? Especially if you are planning on being a stay-at-home mom (like me), grad school seems pretty irrelevant. If you plan on being a stay-at-home mom, you might be better off just finishing your undergrad and then finding a job that can help you save some money before the kiddos start coming (this is what I did)! But if you are planning on working after you have kids (or must work, out of financial necessity), then that's a different story. You can always go back to school, too, if you want/need to in the future. A lot of it depends on where you and your future husband stand financially. Either way, the main thing is to not worry so much about keeping straight A's. God's plan for your life will not be derailed if you get a B in a couple of classes. Best of luck! I will pray for you!
[/quote]

I REALLY like this, and yes,I think we have a LOT in common (I'm 23, too, by the way). I'm getting married during senior year (next year... I took time off before and between college to do some things God called me to which explains my age).

It's so great to hear the experiences of others like me and a huge encouragement. I never meet people who are married during college so I really don't know what to expect but I'm abandoned to it. It's an adventure.

I love the theme of balance among everyone here. It's so close to my heart and I can see that's true for a lot of others!

[Totus Tuus]

I would like to reply to every single post because they have all been so insightful and eye-opening.

It's great to hear stories of successful careers and vocation that did not hinge on the GPA.

Last night was a very momentous occasion... I failed my first college test. Don't get me wrong, I am planning on bringing my grade way up in that class and I DID study, but between getting sick, working this week, and having initiation for my household I couldn't spend as much time on it as I needed to. But it was so liberating!! haha! Maybe that's a bad thing but I think I needed to fail a test to have the sense of liberation from my GPA that I needed

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Totus Tuus' timestamp='1286981727' post='2179423']
I would like to reply to every single post because they have all been so insightful and eye-opening.

It's great to hear stories of successful careers and vocation that did not hinge on the GPA.

Last night was a very momentous occasion... I failed my first college test. Don't get me wrong, I am planning on bringing my grade way up in that class and I DID study, but between getting sick, working this week, and having initiation for my household I couldn't spend as much time on it as I needed to. But it was so liberating!! haha! Maybe that's a bad thing but I think I needed to fail a test to have the sense of liberation from my GPA that I needed
[/quote]
I have the first thing I ever failed -it was a high school calculus quiz - and I carry it with me at school. I need to be reminded that the world won't stop turning if I fail! You're right, it is liberating! Even through undergrad, my (now) husband always had to remind me, when I'd be feeling badly about how a test went (even before the grade was posted) that there would be more tests, there would be other places to pull up my grade. Don't let your GPA define who you are! It brings too much stress!

[Socrates]

Life's a lot bigger than a GPA. Study hard, but don't let it rule your life. As others mentioned, the importance of a GPA depends on your future career or academic path. If you're not planning on grad school, it's probably really not that big a deal, as long as you are passing.