GPA - Grades Preponderating Acheivements?

As soon to be second semester juniors are preparing themselves for the next couple months to come, one thing is overwhelming kids both at New Trier and all over the country.  With over half of their high school careers over, college admissions and preparation are now starting to hit full stride.  But what is it that makes the admissions process so stressful for students, specifically at New Trier? 

I was able to get the opportunity to create a pole among thirty of my peers at school about what they are most worried about with the admissions process.  Not to my surprise, sixty percent of students stated that their GPA was what they were most concerned about.  Now, even though this is not shocking to many people, myself included, it comes off as extremely bothersome to me. 

At a school of 4,000 plus students, competition is at a maximum with every aspect of life, whether it's a sport, one's academics, or even friendships and social life.  To a point this is understandable, for example if 100 students are applying to one college and only 5 can get in to that school, then one has no choice but to pursue their goals and dreams.  At the same time however, I am a strong believer that New Trier students more often than not over look many of their successes by comparing themselves to their peers. 

Take who we will call "student A" for example.  Student A has a 4.5 GPA and has dedicated himself to school.  He is a hardworking kid who has always been able to achieve what he wants.  Now take "student B", that so called "average" student with a GPA in the mid threes.  Student B hasn't been able to quite reach that 4.5 that A has because he has to work after school for four hours every other day.  B's school day also includes no free periods because of the extra two electives that he is taking.  When "B" compares himself to "A", this student overlooks all of the successful fundraisers that he has put together in pep club, or the hard earned money that he has made for his college fund with his extra work hours, because people tell him that student A is bound to be more successful in the future because of his or her grades.  Despite this being just one scenario, this is just one of the many examples of how students at New Trier negatively compare themselves with the "good students" or "future successes". 

Going off of the above however, what I am most interested in hearing about is where all of these over looking tendencies come from.  Is it the pressure put on by parents?  Is it websites such as Naviance, where students get the impression that you are required to have a certain GPA to get in to a good school?  Or is it simply just that typical North Shore attitude that the best way is the only way?   In no way am I disregarding the importance of having a good GPA in high school, but only pondering the reasons to why this number has made kids over look the bright future that they have ahead of them.