Choosing between a high GPA and active involvement in extracurriculars is like navigating a maze in college life. As a biomedical engineering student, although many of my peers love to say “Cs get degrees”, my take emphasizes the side of diving into extracurricular activities while still acknowledging the aspect of having a good GPA.

Let’s start with the fun stuff – extracurriculars. They go beyond textbooks and exams, letting you put your learning to the test in real-world situations. Working on research projects, I’ve not only tackled real-life problems, but also understood how my biomedical engineering knowledge fits into the bigger picture. Being part of student groups and leading projects has taught me how to handle challenges and work with diverse teams – skills that are gold in both studies and future careers. Aside from the academic extracurricular, getting involved in other clubs on campus is a great way to take a mental break and also connect with so many more students, and has allowed me to grow and change for the better ever since I have set foot on my campus. Plus, being able to juggle school and extracurriculars just further demonstrates your ability to manage time well and have a balanced life.

Now, GPA isn’t a total snooze. It’s basically a report card for your academic skills and how much effort you’re putting into your studies. But here’s the twist – it’s not always a fair game. Grading styles, tough courses, and different ways of learning can mess with GPA. In biomedical engineering, where you’re dealing with a mix of subjects and teaching styles, relying solely on GPA is an unfair method of comparing students. Just because a student got stuck with a professor that got a rating of 2 out of 5 on Rate My Professors, doesn’t mean that they don’t have the brains to be an engineer.

Overall, having a strong list of extracurriculars outweighs having a perfect GPA. Buffing up a resume for an employer to look at may be the obvious answer, but it also gives you hands-on experience and skills that go way beyond what you get in a classroom. Personally, I have always had the mindset of having to have the perfect GPA, but once I got to college, I realized that I needed to get much more involved outside of the classroom. With that in mind, I stepped up to the plate and have worked, joined many engineering clubs, am involved in a research group, and also serve through ministry at my college and church. I wouldn’t trade any of my experiences as I have learned so much and would have never been able to receive that from any lecture or lab. Not just excelling in academics, but also bringing a robust set of skills to the table is essential particularly in the dynamic realm of biomedical engineering. Within the broader canvas of academic and extracurricular pursuits, adopting this well-rounded approach not only enhances one’s college journey, but also positions individuals as diverse and well-rounded workers that can have a positive impact in the workplace.