According to Forbes 67% of all employers screen their candidates by GPA. They go on to say that employers are sympathetic about the individual’s college experience. While GPA definitely does matter, companies say that they want an employee who can juggle multiple tasks at once and also show perseverance during strenuous times. So, even if a graduate’s grades weren’t an exact 4.0 they may have also been working 30 hours per week or taking on an extra internship while maintaining their GPA. Whatever the case is, employers absolutely care about the dean’s list achievement.
What exactly is the dean’s list? Basically, it is a group of individuals who have reached the top tier of grades for one particular semester. In most states you must achieve at least a 3.5 GPA or higher per semester to be considered for this achievement. Check with your academic advisor for your school’s current standard. Depending on the college it could change, especially if there are a large number of students who regularly attain dean’s list status. Some universities will award extra achievements, such as scholarships, to those who maintain the dean’s list standard throughout their study.
Why is it even important anyway? One would argue a degree is a degree, right? There are actually an array of reasons to try and get on the dean’s list. One reason is that this type of dedication to your chosen field may open up some internship opportunities that previously may have placed you among a sea of other applicants and that always looks good on a resume. Certain students to maintain this status can get additional graduation honors – those really help to shine up a resume. Networking is also key when trying to get the job of your dreams. Dean’s listers will often be invited to special events where attendees can rub elbows with the finest in their department of expertise. It pays to know others who work just as hard as you do!
What do I need to do? Be prepared. The best thing you can do is research your classes in detail and plan ahead. Know your classes and professors. Not only will the university website have some information about what a class will cover, but there are tons of sites out there that will describe coursework and a professor’s teaching methods in great detail. Plan out your schedule thoroughly. If you know exactly what the class entails then you will know about how long the classwork will take. Of course, you can’t know everything about a class that you haven’t taken yet, but you can do your best to find out. Once school has started don’t be afraid to ask the professor or class questions. Taking 15 minutes before each class to review the last class and asking questions if needed will help out if you’re stuck.
I don’t think I can achieve it. You absolutely can achieve it! This will definitely take some serious dedication, but if done right there isn’t any reason that any one person can’t achieve the grades they want. Studying the right way will attribute to most of your success. Start working over your coursework 20-30 minutes at a time and take small breaks (don’t let yourself go over on breaks if you can help it). Find a place that is away from tempting distractions like TV or friends. Even putting your phone away from view for a couple of hours will help you concentrate. Take the best notes you can while in class and spend time after class to write in anything you may have forgotten while the professor was talking. Also, asking for course notes are always helpful too. Some professors will actually make their presentations available for download. When you think you have all of the information down try “teaching” the material to a friend or fellow classmate instead of just trying to memorize some information on flashcards.
I can’t achieve it. There is actually such a thing as “academic bankruptcy”. If there are some extenuating circumstances that are holding you back from the dean’s list, then this option might be for you. Basically what this means is that you would like to wipe a semester clean from your record. Your classwork and grades will act as if they never happened, but some schools may allow your time worked to still show on your record so that there is no change in financial aid eligibility. Academic bankruptcy is for those who have had a serious life event hold them back from their college goals. Please speak with your campus financial officer and academic advisor to see what this may entail and if this option is right for you.
