[Steve Wherry]

I think that most mentors are basically playing the percentages and are looking out for the best interest of students because that is what we do:

Good GPA + FIRST = Excellent probability of opportunities for success in the future with a developed skill-set and defined leadership skills

Good GPA + no FIRST = Very good probability of future success; possibly fewer opportunities?

Lower GPA + FIRST = Fewer opportunities, but a well developed skill-set and defined leadership skills

Lower GPA + no FIRST = definitely fewer opportunities

Although the above list is loosely defined, mentors want to help students open doors instead of the student potentially closing them. We want students to want to do well in the classroom and to always give their best effort in order to maximize their potential and be as good as they can be to avoid minimizing your future opportunities. Creating minimum team standards (grades) is one way to get students to take the classroom part seriously and become the total package.

The on-going debate on this thread is just because we care about students' futures and want to offer guidance (optional) in the present.