Do Grades Really Matter?

One of the most frequently asked questions for college students is, “Do grades really matter?” This answer is, “It depends on what you planning to do.” In an academic environment, grades matter. On the job, they usually don’t matter. For the most part they don’t have much importance when looking for a job and getting hired. Let’s look at the different environments.

Further Education

Grades are the only way an academic institution has to measure the success of their students which is why there are minimum requirements to pass a course. You had to have a minimum GPA and SAT exam scores to be accepted into your college.

If you plan to go to graduate school then your grades do matter because all graduate schools have minimum requirements for both GPA and GRE exam scores as part of their entrance requirements. Minimum grades on the MCAT or LSAT are required to get into medical or law school.

In the academic world people are recognized for getting good grades. Some majors require minimum grades to stay in the curriculums. So in academia, good grades are paramount.

Looking for Your First Job

When you are looking for that first job right out of college, do grades matter? Yes and No. If you have never had a “real” job, then an employer will look at your grades. By real job I mean something other than a fast food restaurant, sales clerk or other traditional “kids” jobs…minimum wage…no skills required jobs.

Even then they will contact your professors and employers to find out if you came to class and work everyday and arrived on time. Attendance is important to employers. So is being punctual. Habitual lateness is grounds for termination on most jobs. Employers also ask if you got along with your classmates and co-workers…if you are a team player. So when looking for your first job, grades do count but they are not the only criteria used for hiring.

Looking for Work when You Have Some Experience

For experienced workers, grades rarely matter. There are a few exceptions such as when you’ve applied to an academic institution or the employer requires you to get an advanced degree or industry certification. Academic institutions live and breath for grades so they matter regardless of the position you apply for. In fact, most academic institutions require their janitors to be high school graduates. If an employer requires you to get an advanced degree, you have to meet the entrance requirements to the schools they approve so again grades matter.

However, your job experience is of equal importance to non academic employers. They may require you to get an advanced degree or certification, but they are paying you to do a job.

If no advanced degree or certifications are required, grades are not important because there is no correlation between high grades and career success. Employers want people who are teachable, can do the job, get along with other people, come to work on time and contribute to the company.

They do not want prima donnas who think they know everything because they are smarter than everybody else (After all I have an A average and graduated Magna Cum Laude). The only grades most employers will look at are the grades in your major or any other course that applies to the job for which you are being considered. For example if you are an engineering major, history grades won’t matter, but English composition, technical writing and public speaking grades will matter because engineers have to write technical documents and give presentations.

Bottom Line

If you plan to get an advanced degree, you need good grades otherwise, your job skills, work ethic and people skills are more important.