While both a student’s extracurriculars and GPA (Grade Point Average) are important, the smart decision is to always prioritize classes and GPA over extracurriculars. While founding clubs, being a part of a sports team, or winning competitions can be a standout factor for college recruiters, no club or sports team can save an application with an extremely low GPA. A low GPA signals to the recruiter that the student either struggles in school or is apathetic towards their education. The GPA of a student has far-reaching consequences in the college admission process and beyond.
The GPA of a student determines which colleges they are eligible for. Students that don’t reach the minimum GPA standard for a college, in most cases, are not admitted, even if the student has stellar extracurriculars. Why do colleges have minimum GPA requirements? Colleges know that the GPA of a student is an accurate indicator of how a student reacts and adapts to difficult environments – the higher the GPA the better the student can adapt – so colleges want students that can handle difficult classes. The GPA is also often seen as an indicator of a student’s work ethic and dedication to academic excellence. While extracurriculars can tip the balance when the students have a similar GPA, a student must first have a competitive GPA for extracurriculars to make a difference.
A student’s GPA not only determines the available colleges, but the scholarships the student can apply to. Many colleges and universities give out scholarships based on the high school GPA of the student, meaning that the GPA of a student can directly change how large the scholarship given by the college is by thousands of dollars. While there are certainly scholarships available for certain extracurricular activities, the vast majority of these scholarships are sports related, rare, and reserved for the most outstanding high school athletes. Scholarships with required GPA minimums, on the other hand, are more plentiful. Some scholarships that require a healthy GPA include: the National Merit Scholarship Program, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, the Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship, and the AXA Achievement Scholarship. Most scholarships require GPA minimums, so striving for a high GPA maximizes available scholarships to the student.
The GPA and extracurriculars of a student are both important, but the GPA of a student is the dominant factor for college recruiters. If a student is able to achieve a respectable GPA, it opens up a plethora of doors academically and beyond. A high GPA allows students to pursue the colleges they want and receive more scholarships. However, a respectable GPA shows what is most important: a student’s work ethic, commitment to education, adaptability, and determination.