Illustration by Thomas Baldwin.Ally Middleton - Opinions Writerallym95@uab.edu
With the start of the new semester, it is often difficult to start fresh without lingering thoughts of the previous semester. Maybe your grades were not exactly what you wanted them to be last semester, or maybe you did your best in a class, but it still didn’t get you an A. The good news is, though, that those classes are over, and you get to move on.
Going into a class expecting to do poorly or thinking your life is over just because of one bad grade can almost guarantee failure. For example, I didn’t do so hot in Organic Chemistry I last semester. I got off to a bad start, and it affected the rest of my semester in the class. Now I’m in Organic Chemistry II, and I have to keep reminding myself that this is a new class, and I have a new chance to do well. My grade last semester does not affect how I do this semester.
The first step to approaching the new semester correctly is to realize that your grades do not define you. A letter on your transcript does not define you. A number does not define you. There is so much more to get out of college than spending your days in the library, such as getting involved in campus clubs and organizations, volunteering in the community, shadowing medical professionals and gaining other valuable experiences.
Tristan Samios, a sophomore biomedical sciences major, believes it is the experience of college, not just the grades, that make you successful. “Worrying about only grades would stress me out too much, so I’d rather make sure I get more out of college and life in general by taking advantage of opportunities outside of academics,” he said when asked about what he places the most emphasis on during his time here at UAB.
Aligning with his beliefs, students should be able to look back on their years in college and remember more than just having their noses stuck in textbooks studying all night. Students can learn a lot from books, but without the connections formed with their peers, mentors, professors and other positive role models, they are left gaining much more from college besides facts and background knowledge from books.
On the other hand, sophomore neuroscience student Sami Foster cautions students not to underestimate the importance of grades even if your GPA isn’t the only thing that matters. “Your grades are the clearest look into how you’re doing in school…that’s just how it is. But with that being said, students should still be sure not to stress themselves out so much over a grade on a test that it starts to affect their mental health, relationships and success.”
However, according to a 2012 article from “US News,” lack of extracurricular activities is one of the top 3 reasons medical school applications are rejected. The article does concede that graduate and professional schools care about academic records as well, but extracurricular activities are essential for proving commitment and leadership potential as an undergraduate. The article also points out that a good GPA alone will not write a personal statement that stands out, something that is required when applying to almost any graduate program. The key is finding a balance that works for you.
A lot of students looking to apply to graduate or professional school often overlook how valuable these extracurricular experiences are. They put so much emphasis on getting the right grades, keeping a perfect GPA and wasting away in the library studying till 2 a.m. that they forget schools are looking at much more than just a number on a piece of paper. You are so much more than just a number on a piece of paper.
