Importance of GPA

[jackzack87]

Or you could not be lazy and not get a 2.0 in the first place and not have to worry about it?

Easy there Sarge. Low GPA does not necessarily equal laziness. It's actually a good point that you CAN get into a reputable masters program with a good GRE/GMAT score and other intangibles.

[bllyshrs]

From my vantage point, both MA2 and jack are right, and burbuja balances this one out quite well.

Here's the deal: I've got years of management experience and have run $100M sales operations for a major corporation. We never looked at GPA. We only looked at whether or not the person had a degree and either way, real world experience was far more important.

That being said, MA2's point is spot on. In my experience, those who plan to succeed do so. Those who "plan not to fail" miss the mark far too often in this task and the next. Your name is stamped on everything you do. Your name is your brand. You would be wise to undertake everything you do to the best of your ability; it will pay dividends down the road whether you can see it today or not.

And I'm not saying there is no such thing as a turnaround story. I am one. Nonetheless, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have needed to turnaround.

[TheCommuter]

Ok, I know this may sound dumb and all but how truly important is your GPA, if you are not planning on going further than a Bachelors degree.

I am an RN who is slowly pursuing the BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) degree in order to potentially enhance my career opportunities and marketability. Anyway, grade point average is very important for a brand new nurse who is attempting to land a spot in a new grad hospital internship, especially in a competitive specialty such as the ER, ICU, labor & delivery, postpartum, pediatrics, the operating room, and so forth.

Since the U.S. economy is still slumping, and there are more new nurses flooding the market than there are jobs available, hospitals use grade point average as a weeding-out tool to narrow down the number of people they interview. For example, I applied for an internship at a major teaching hospital in Dallas, and the recruiter wanted me to email a copy of my official nursing school transcripts to her before she'd be willing to schedule an interview with me. Since my GPA was a 3.5, she granted the interview. I still didn't get the job, but that's life.

Many new nurses are finding that they have been disqualified for prestigious new grad internships at hospitals because their GPA is too low to receive a callback from recruiters. Grades might not be as important in other career pathways, but a new nurse who is graduating this year with big dreams of working in somebody's surgical suite had better have the right grade point average, superb interviewing skills, and the ability to network with the right people.

[Potatoloco]

Ok, I know this may sound dumb and all but how truly important is your GPA, if you are not planning on going further than a Bachelors degree.

I guess what I am asking, generally speaking does an employer care if you were a 2.0 or 4.0 GPA, especially if you have real-life experience, etc? I seem to think tist is more of a trivial thing rather than something that is terribly important, especially if you are just getting a basic, general degree like liberal arts, etc. Maybe just another extra feather in your cap sort of thing.

Not trying to down play the importance of truly understanding the material, spending quality time syudying, etc or ecelling at your education because you simply want for your own personal reasons. Of course those going for further education, well thats a different subject all together.

I'm, just curious what the concensus is on this topic. Thoughts and opinions - PLEASE???

Depends on what degree you're getting and what area of employment you seek. I have lots of friends that graduated with 2.0 GPA's and got hired on immediately after graduation. Then again I've known others with near 4.0 that couldn't find a job to save their life because either their degree choice and/or interpersonal skills. All of these involved different processes where transcripts were required or not required.

The police in my area require 60 credit hours of at least a "C". That's a 2.0 GPA for a job starting out in the high 40k range. Same with fire.

Wife's best friend was an alternate for vet school with a 3.9 GPA from the same campus.

My own mother has a GED with no college experience and makes close to 50k a year in management.

Father-in-law dropped out after one semester and a 1.0 GPA. He makes 95k now working for the FAA.

Sister-in-law and brother-in-law make 250k combined with 3.5-4.0 GPAs.

A former investor of mine is a multi-millionaire after dropping out of college and starting several business ventures.

Another family friend carried a 4.0 in her major, had a business fail, now works part time at a donut shop and hasn't found a job in 2 years.

The only conclusion I can really make is, GPA isn't always cut and dry upon what success you will have in life. Sometimes it's who you know, life experience, personality, or just dumb luck of being in the right place at the right time.

[toddsbiyj]

WOW!! Thanks guys.

This thread has played out nicely and as I expected, there was a huge variance in opinions. Of course, everyone had great points and opinions and examples.

I totally agreed with what Potatloco had to say.
"The only conclusion I can really make is, GPA isn't always cut and dry upon what success you will have in life. Sometimes it's who you know, life experience, personality, or just dumb luck of being in the right place at the right time."

There is so much variance from job to job, professions to profession, school to schoool, and person to person to definitively say YES or NO. With my life experience, I expected this is what would be shown in the thread. I have had the 100k+/year jobs (without a degree) and then turned around and had to work 2 full-time jobs, just for my family to survive (because I didn't have a degree). I also have been offered the administrative position with a 38th floor window view of downtown Houston(because of who knew me, right place-right time).

So yes, I believe it is totally dependent on your particular situation, who you know, what you have previously done in lfe, what jobs you wish to obtain, What school you want to attend next, etc, etc, etc.

[MA2]

Obviously luck is a part in life, as is experience and networking and so on.

My point is that the people who say "GPA isn't -THAT- important" are the people that will make excuses to miss class... I'm sick, don't have a ride to school, I can afford to miss this ONE class...

Whereas the people who take pride in what they do, even if GPA may not matter in the end, are the people that will go to class tired, or sick, or walk a few miles to get there, lose some sleep to make that essay due tomorrow absolutely perfect.... and so on.

[mongoose65]

Good luck getting in to a decent Masters program with a 2.0 as a GPA.

Pretty closed minded for a forum dedicated to alternative degree programs. Sure, it's great to have a 3.8 gpa. Unfortunately many here are looking to gain a degree at the lowest cost and shortest time frame.

Besides the AMU's and others of the world (decent, inexpensive, reputable RA schools) that do not require GPA, GRE scores or other admission protocol, MANY schools, public and private will disregard GPA for a resume, GRE scores, personal references and "probationary" admission status (i.e. take 3 classes and maintain a 3.0 or better and you're in).

So it is possible to get into good grad programs with a bad GPA and to get back to the original post, not once in 45 years of work in numerous industries has anyone requested a GPA. If they want a transcript it's usually to show proof of degree completion or proof of relevant coursework.

There are always options to advancement. Schools love money. They will take many factors into consideration to admit you and get some of yours.

[jackzack87]

From my vantage point, both MA2 and jack are right, and burbuja balances this one out quite well.

Your name is stamped on everything you do. Your name is your brand. You would be wise to undertake everything you do to the best of your ability; it will pay dividends down the road whether you can see it today or not.

And I'm not saying there is no such thing as a turnaround story. I am one. Nonetheless, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have needed to turnaround.

Spot on. I hope my posts here did not suggest I am an advocate of doing subpar work or not giving your best. Your name is indeed stamped on it, and on something that you cannot undo, I would (I did) give everything to have the best outcome I can attain.

I simply don't buy into the idea that one factor is the whole deal. I have a great GPA, but that's not how I plan to succeed; it's my attitude that will eventually carry me through.

[videguy]

I have one class left to complete my degree through an online program through a regionally accredited school. I have been considering grad school, but still thinking about it. I worked hard through school and have a 3.97 GPA to show for it. I am thinking of looking for well known name if I go the grad school route. The nice part is I am sure I can get into most programs with out a problem. My choices with a 2.0 GPA would be a lot fewer and most likely not as well known and probably not as good.
My point is that if you are going to get a degree do the best you can and your grade will reflect that. I had to do homework 4-7 nights a week 3-4 hours a night for 3 years. While I was doing it it, it was not fun. Looking back now I am glad I put in the effort to do well and did not simply skate through with C's and figure it would not matter.

[MA2]

Pretty closed minded for a forum dedicated to alternative degree programs. Sure, it's great to have a 3.8 gpa. Unfortunately many here are looking to gain a degree at the lowest cost and shortest time frame.

Sigh. It's just a mental battle. If you view the importance of your GPA in a high regard you will go the extra mile.

Think of physical fitness. You have to hate your body to a certain extent. The minute you look at your body and go "yea I'm perfect" you've lost the battle. So when you a test back with a "C-" and view that as acceptable it seems like you are selling yourself short.

If you put forth 100% and get all C's then kudos to you, you did your best and passed, and that's quite an accomplishment. But don't get a C out of laziness or because you don't think it's that a big of a deal.

Also, if you think GPA still is "not that important" read the topic in the "big 3" forum where the guy didn't give 100% effort on a class, got a C-, and since that was his only class it put his GPA below the required 2.0 for graduation and now he's in quite a pickle :/