[EricH]

GPA: Yep, it's usually important for the first job. If you don't have that 3.0+, you'll have a mountain to climb to get in. Some companies want a 3.2+. At least, that's how it tends to be in the engineering world. I can't speak for non-engineering jobs on this.

Regarding the SAT comments earlier: They did ditch the analogies (with which decision I was mildly disappointed); now they need to do the same thing with the essay. (Or, make sure that you can't grade it from across the room based on length--there are people (not official SAT graders) who can do that, and never read the essay, and get the grade "right", as in the same as the SAT grader.)

Back to the initial question: Smaller class sizes, better motivation techniques than "I'm required to be here", and toughen the minimum graduation requirements by a class or two in certain areas. (Why toughen? Because the students will rise to the challenge.)