<p>If I were to take let’s say 17+ hours every semester, how hard is it to maintain a 4.0 GPA and be involved in other stuff like research, volunteering, etc.? How many people in CNS actually graduate with a 4.0 GPA? Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t know what kind of answer you’re looking for. I would consider maintaining a 4.0 over 8 17+ hour semesters to be a feat of its own. I would guess that about 2% of the class graduates with a 4.0, and that’s probably being too generous. That’s also considering that those students probably average less than 17 credits a semester. To be able to pull that off along with true involvement in research and volunteering is difficult enough for me to say that those who can do it generally know who they are. </p>
<p>By the way, there’s a big difference in mentality between shooting for a 3.9 and a 4.0. If you settle for nothing less than a 4.0 and obsess over it, you’ll be constantly worried and studying. Rather, aim for it but don’t expect it. Your life will be a lot less stressful. While “4.0” does have a ring to it, anything >3.9 is effectively equivalent in the end.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that the science labs require more time than their credit hours suggest. CH 301, for example, is three credits for three hours of lecture, but the CH 204 lab is two credits for a one hour lecture and four hours of lab. 17 hours in CNS with a lab every semester is a heavier workload than 17 hours without a lab.</p>
<p>what major requires 17+ hours a semester?that’s overkill</p>
<p>I don’t thinks it’s the major, we just have an over-achiever here :)</p>
<p>Hi cyphert, I’m a senior physics major and I’ve been regularly taking ~18-19 hrs of classes during my whole time at UT. I’ve been pretty involved in school (did some college council stuff) and research as well. And, currently I’m maintaining >3.9 GPA. So it’s possible but there would be times when you feel like there is just not enough time in this world to finish everything that you want to do. But, you can always drop some responsibilities if it’s too much. (It’s harder to maintain a 4.0 now because of the +/- system because there’s A- but there’s no A+ to balance it)</p>