The bane of every high achieving student: numbers. As college application season rolls around, the stress level of seniors begins to hike upwards, with students rushing through their personal statements, fretting over extracurriculars, and the worst above all, their grades.
While now grades aren’t the most important factor that plays into the final decision of college admissions, it’s still something that students fret over constantly. SAT and ACT scores, cumulative GPA, AP exam grades—all things that need a number to determine the final outcome. In some extreme cases, students would say that if they get a failing grade, then they’ve failed at life. It is of utmost importance that every scholar understands that the number received during school years can only determine a short period of their life.
I’ve had the good fortune to go around and inquire seniors on their thoughts on the topic of numbers and its relationship with college applications. Responses did vary. Some agreed that numbers are the most important:
“Yes, I do believe that [grades] are a big factor during the admission process,” Mickey Ye, a senior at John Dewey High School said. “Because I suffered through all four years of high school for good grades, and I would be incredibly disappointed if all my hard work goes to waste.”
While others would disagree with the idea:
“Well, numbers can only go so far, because if you think about it, everyone can have a 4.0 GPA, it really is your experience that makes someone stand out,” Chloe Wu, a student at JDHS said. “This is what makes extracurriculars and essays so important as well.”
In most instances, the first thing admissions officers see when they open an application is the academic achievements—yes, grades—but it won’t affect the way the admissions officers view the student.
Other factors, like extracurriculars, play a heavy role in determining the acceptance or rejection to the university. Personal statements are equally important too, since it gives applicants the chance to show the creative side of themselves. Admission officers look for a well-rounded student, someone who has genuine interest in what they are doing. As Chloe had said, the interest that a student has and the activities they have indulged in is what makes them stand out amongst thousands of other applicants. Numbers can only go so far in showing an applicant’s full potential.
