If you interview for a graduate school program or even an internship, you will likely get asked a version of this question: do you think your grades accurately reflect your ability? 

This can be a difficult question to answer and support. Because while you may think your grades are not a reflection of your ability, the results may indicate the opposite. You may believe you are more capable, but your cumulative GPA possibly says something different.

So, are your college grades a good reflection of your ability? Do your grades accurately represent the effort you put in? Do your grades predict your destiny? As is true with most questions like these, the answer is yes and no, so keep reading...

Your grades don’t…

Your GPA will never provide the full picture. It will not reveal everything involved with your college years. It can’t possibly explain challenges you worked to overcome.

If you’re frustrated by your poor GPA, please carefully read through these 3 things that your grades don’t do:

1. Your grades don’t reflect time spent.

Some students have to study more than others. It’s unfair but true. Most students have unique learning styles and use unique studying methods. Successful students tend to follow general principles but adapt those principles to fit them.

What does this mean? You can spend more time studying than others students in your class but earn less points. This fact shouldn’t cause you to want to give up, but help you realize you can’t gauge your success based on the time you invested. How you use that time is what makes the difference between an A student and a C student.

2. Your grades don’t prove you’re more or less intelligent than your peers.

You’re likely as gifted as many of your peers. (You may actually be more gifted than others.) However, your grades don’t always reflect your intelligence or ability.

Different students have different abilities. How you use those abilities and gifting is what can set you apart. You may not be the smartest person in your class, but you can study the smartest in your class. That’s what separates an average to below average student from an excellent student: studying intelligently.

3. Your grades don’t reflect your desire to excel.

Wanting good grades isn’t enough. Working for those grades is what makes the difference. If you truly desire to get good grades, your main goal shouldn’t be earning a certain letter grade. Your main goal should be learning.

If your desire is to learn, to grow, and to develop as a person, you can meet that goal in every class. In reality, your future employers (even in competitive fields like medicine) care more about your ability to develop yourself as a person, not earn the highest GPA. 

Your grades do…

Your grades may not give the full picture, but they provide a good picture. They give a snapshot into your life, your habits, your routine, etc. 

Think of your grades like the cover of a book. They don’t give you every detail, but they give enough information to determine if someone wants to crack open the book and start reading or not.

If your desire is to land internships, get summer jobs, experience academic success in college, and more, please carefully read through these 4 things that your grades do:

1. Your grades do show your consistent habits.

If a freshman earns good grades, that tells a college teacher a few things. (As a college instructor, I’ve noticed these things.) 

• The student can follow instructions. Following instructions is a big part of adjusting to college academics. Many courses are designed specifically to weed out freshmen that struggle to follow guidelines. Following directions is a critical skill in most fields but especially in fields that require intense accuracy.

• The student can manage their time. Learning to break big tasks down into manageable steps is key. Learning to say no to good opportunities in order to say yes to the best opportunities is also key. Students who manage their time well do both of these things regularly, and in turn usually earn better grades.

• The student can advocate for themself. If this student doesn’t know an answer or can’t recall details, they don’t wait to get an answer. They don't expect others to volunteer the information. They go find the answers for themselves. They ask questions, email to schedule meetings, and more.

2. Your grades do show your ability to overcome obstacles.

If a college freshman has a bad first semester grades-wise but recovers the following semester, that tells a professor (or employer) something. If a student started college with a low high school GPA but earns above average grades in college (A’s and B’s), that tells a professor something.

Overcoming obstacles is a life skill. If you earn bad grades, you’re not doomed to live a mediocre existence and work crummy jobs. The key is overcoming these obstacles. This is what employers want, people who can face very real challenges and overcome them. This shows grit.

Often between the first and second semester of your first year of college, you need to have a reality check. If your grades weren’t good, you need to approach the next semester with a new strategy. If your grades were fine but not good for you, you need to take a step back and assess why. 

3. Your grades do show your ability to adapt.

Different classes require different studying approaches. Different teachers require different studying approaches. This reality, however, can be overwhelming to a student who studied the same way for every class in high school and succeeded academically.

Think of a difficult class you’re currently in or used to be in. What made this class so difficult? While you may be tempted to blame the instructor, blame that time period in your life, or blame some other factor, probably the biggest contributing factor was how you studied.

I remember one semester during my junior year of college I faced an extremely challenging class. This class was legendary on campus for being incredibly time-consuming and difficult. While I was a good student, I really struggled in this class (much more than I ever had previously in college).

While I could have easily blamed my grades on the teacher for being too demanding, the college for requiring the class, or the busyness of that semester, I didn’t. I realized that the class was valuable, but it stretched learning muscles that were weak or rarely used in my major classes. I still look back on this class with great appreciation (even though I didn’t earn the grade I wanted). Why? It exposed an area in which I needed to grow and learn.

If you’re in a difficult class with a difficult teacher, view this situation as an opportunity to grow. Consider this as a challenge you will overcome. Don’t focus on feelings that get you stuck, anxious, or despondent. Adopt an “I can” attitude.

4. Your grades show your determination to succeed.

Sticking with difficult classes shows far more about your character than earning an easy A ever will. Why? Your determination to finish and succeed reveals you’re not in it for a letter grade. It shows you’re in it for the process.

I’ve shared this in the past, but I’m a huge perfectionist. This tendency showed itself most when it came to grades. I would constantly make excuses to myself and others for my grades.

While I didn’t realize this at the time, I was slowly learning to care less about the grade and more about the process. I gradually learned to work hard, even if I didn’t get the letter grade I wanted, because I knew hard work and smart work would pay off. 

This skill is something I use to this day. As an instructor, I try new things in my classroom all the time. Many activities or new approaches I use do not work, but failing doesn’t keep me from getting back up and going back at it.

Freshman, if you’re struggling, don’t give up. Stand back up, dust yourself off, and try a new approach. Your grades won’t show the time you put in, but your grades eventually show your determination to master skills.

If you find yourself frustrated with your grades, don’t get discouraged. Your grades only show part of the picture. If you find yourself defensive of your grades, don’t forget that the big picture is more important than your grade in one class or during one semester. Keep your eyes on the prize: learning, developing skills, and growing as a person.