Is High School Becoming Useless? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Is High School Becoming Useless?

Is today's generation being prepared for life after high school?

3081
Is High School Becoming Useless?
University of Massachusetts Boston

All through grade school, we were taught that good grades are the key to success. If we were to do anything in life, we needed to get good grades... or so they made it seem.

In high school today, kids are so focused on “What is my GPA this semester?" but is that the right thing to be worrying about? A friend of mine (who wished not to be named), was a track star at his high school. He set records and was a state champion. Obviously, Division 1 colleges were looking at him and offering scholarships based on his athletic ability and grades. However, when he finally decided to commit a Division 1 college, the recruiting adviser did not even ask him what his GPA was. All they focused on was his astonishing 32 on the ACT, an assessment for college readiness. This man who was just given money to attend a high class, Division 1 college, was not even asked about his GPA throughout high school. Little did everyone know, my friend's GPA was a 2.2, and according to most standards, a 2.2 out of 4 is not sufficient.

Students are taught they need to show up to school for four years. They are told they need to study extremely hard for tests and spend all night working on homework, but when it comes down to it, the college recruiting and enrollment offices are not even looking at all that homework you did or the A's you got in your hardest classes.

That leads me to my next question: if you believe a college is looking at your GPA, are you really taking the classes to prepare you for the ACT and college? There are students in high school that take easy classes their whole high school career and graduate with a 4.0 GPA, but since all those classes were “Easy A’s,” it wasn’t a challenge to maintain a 4.0. These students feel superior for getting a 4.0 GPA, but receive average scores on the ACT. Because they wanted a report card to look good with a 4.0, they didn't take any rigorous classes, and now these students cannot even apply for certain scholarships due to test scores. That is when reality hits and they realize, “I did not work not my full ability, and I could've done more to prepare myself for college and the ACT," but that needs to come earlier.

Do not get me wrong, I am not saying all students who have a high GPA do not deserve to be recognized for it, but when a college is looking at a student's grade point average, I believe that they need to look at the course the student took and the rank/difficulty of the course. I am not saying that you need to stop doing homework or stop studying for tests either. I am saying that at this point in time, high school is not preparing students to make it to college. Yes, they give you work in high school, and the grades you get count towards something, but high school is on the verge of becoming useless.

Whether you like it or not, millennials are the future, and they aren't even prepared to make it to college. How are they ever going to make it in the "real world"?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
school of business
CIS Markets

Coming from someone majoring in business at a school that thrives off of business majors, I know how rough it can be sometimes. Being a business major can be awesome, and awful, simultaneously. We work our tails off to be the best, but sometimes the stress can just tear you apart. Here are some struggles faced by business majors that will sound all too familiar.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Things To Know About The First Semester Of College

10 things that most incoming college freshmen have no idea about.

740
campus
Pexels

Starting college is pretty scary and fun at the same time. You are free of your parents(in most cases) but this is the first time you have no idea what the heck is going on. Here are 10 things you may want to know going into your first semester.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The Daily Struggles of Being a College Commuter

It's not all morning coffees and singing along to the radio.

1461
The Daily Struggles of Being a College Commuter
morethanwheels

I've been in college for four years now. I spent half my time as a commuter and half as a resident so I've experienced both sides of the housing spectrum. One thing I've learned comparing the two is that my struggles as a commuter far outweigh anything I went through while living on campus. Commuters have to deal with the problems school brings along with a slew of other issues; I've filled up my gas tank in the worst kind of weather conditions and napped in random places in public more times than I'm proud to say of. This is a list of some of the most challenging aspects of being a commuter.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

4131
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

18135
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments