In April of 2024, I asked 3 questions to about 100+ people.

1. Did your first employer after college ask you for your GPA?
2. How large a factor was your GPA in you getting that job?
3. Did someone else play a crucial part in you getting that job?

The answers I received for the large part were No, Not Much, and Yes.

If GPA isn’t so crucial in terms of employment, why do we as a society put so much importance on it? Why do we as parents continue to focus on it?

Could it be that we as parents want bragging rights? Look, how wonderful my son did. Did you know my daughter topped her class?

What if, instead of focusing on the GPA so much, we ask our kids to do this:

• Build a demonstrable body of work while in college that showcases their growth and knowledge in the field of their choice.
• Build a network of lifelong allies.

Would that not be more meaningful and beneficial to them in the long run?