Serious question: Why are kids freaking out over grades?

Sadly admission and scholarships are more competitive now for my younger son that it was for his older brother 10 years ago. With a 35 ACT 4.0 GPA in all AP classss just starting to get the deferral and rejection decisions for EA at more selective schools. Safe schools are offering much lower scholarships than my older son was offered with a 28 ACT. Now waiting for regular decisions