My GPA in college did not have the impact on my career that I had anticipated.

As the new school year commences, I reflect on the joy of unpacking new school supplies and reconnecting with friends after a summer separation.

I'm also reminded of the time I spent excessively worrying about my grades.

My biggest regret from college is not caring less about my GPA.

I went to Northwestern University, a private school in Evanston, Illinois, on the shores of Lake Michigan, renowned for its academic intensity.

My dream was to attend Medill, Northwestern's renowned journalism program, and become a writer and editor in high school.

I disregarded the warnings from friends, teachers, and guidance counselors that Northwestern, with its 10% acceptance rate at the time, would be a "reach school" for me.

Although I was accepted into my dream school, I felt an anxious pit in my stomach, as if my body knew the imposter syndrome I would experience once I arrived on campus before my mind caught up.

To demonstrate my worth at Northwestern, I decided to excel academically since no one anticipated my acceptance there.

I was burned out — but my grades were never better

If I received less than an A minus on an assignment or test after starting classes, I panicked, convinced that someone in the admissions office would realize I was a fraud.

At 18, I viewed stress as a symbol of my dedication and intelligence, with friends teasing that the library would be the first stop if I ever disappeared.

I booked a last-minute plane ticket home to New Jersey and pulled an all-nighter just to hug my mom and sleep in my childhood bedroom for 12 uninterrupted hours during a particularly bad spell of burnout.

Studies have demonstrated that the constant drive to achieve, typically assessed through grades or GPA, can lead to students experiencing sleep loss, anxiety, or depression.

An August 2023 Handshake report revealed that over 80% of 2024 college graduates experienced burnout symptoms during their undergraduate studies.

Despite pushing myself to my limits during the first two years of college, I still managed to maintain excellent grades, even though I often fell asleep during lectures, skipped meals, and distanced myself from my friends.

Although I achieved straight A's in one academic period, I was too exhausted to celebrate.

Halfway through my sophomore year, I seriously considered transferring out of Northwestern.

I tried to alleviate academic burnout by engaging in self-care activities such as journaling and going for walks by the lake, but struggled to separate my self-worth and emotions from my grades.

During my junior year, I vowed to not beat myself up over a bad grade as long as I gave it my all. Though it took time to adjust, my academic stress decreased from a boil to a simmer by my senior year.

My efforts to achieve excellent grades were justified when I graduated from Northwestern with honors in 2019.

I added my final GPA of 3.82 to the top of my resume, confident that it would set me apart from other qualified candidates and demonstrate my dedication.

In the weeks leading up to graduation, I went on dozens of job interviews but not a single person asked about my GPA.

During my summer internship, my potential bosses and colleagues were more intrigued by the projects I undertook, the skills I acquired through extracurricular activities, how I utilized my leisure time, and my career aspirations.

After finishing my first post-grad internship and six months of graduation, I removed my GPA from my resume, which felt liberating but slightly disappointing.

'Your GPA doesn't matter as much as you think it does'

According to Chelsea Jay, a career and leadership coach, most employers do not check GPA when hiring for entry-level jobs where candidates may not have much experience.

Recently, companies have started placing a greater emphasis on soft skills, internships, volunteer experiences, extracurriculars, and work samples when hiring recent college graduates, rather than solely relying on grades.

"Jay advises students not to slack off but to aim for a 3.0 GPA or higher to demonstrate their motivation and capability to learn various subjects without exhausting themselves."

In competitive or technical industries, such as education, finance, health, law, and tech, some employers consider GPA to be important. Additionally, for those pursuing postgraduate degrees, like law or medical school, GPA plays a crucial role in the admission decision.

But your GPA won't make or break your career.

"According to Jay, it is more beneficial to acquire practical work experience and establish connections with individuals in your industry rather than solely focusing on your GPA. While your GPA is important, it may not be as significant in predicting success as gaining relevant experience and building relationships."

Despite having B's and C's on their transcripts, individuals can still secure their dream jobs. Similarly, even if you accidentally slept through an exam, you can still gain admission to your top-choice law school.

If I could give my 18-year-old self one piece of advice, I would tell her not to let her self-worth or confidence be determined by a letter grade, as in five years, it won't matter if she failed an economics exam or made a mistake on a paper.

Instead of focusing solely on academic achievements, I believe that forming meaningful relationships, being inspired by mentors, and experiencing moments of passion and fulfillment will have a greater impact on career prospects.

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