<p>I decided that I will be honestly happy with a 3.9, and that a 4.0 would drive me crazy (i.e. if I get a 4.0, I will make myself insane trying to maintain it). I want all A’s and 1 A- each semester. I’ve tried telling myself “It’s college, it’s tough… a 3.7 or 3.8… or even a 3.6… would be okay” but it doesn’t work. I WANT a 3.9 or above. I try to put that all aside though, and just give 100% effort in all my classes. So far it looks like I am going to get an A in each class, except for maybe 1 class (I need to get a 90% or above on the final, and so far I’ve been getting 95+ on all midterms, so it is do-able to get an A in that one too), but I’m not going to beat myself up over it.</p>
<p>So far I have successfully maintained a 3.9+ GPA, but I will try to be less hard on myself in the future because I don’t want my ambitions to limit my class options. In previous semesters I tended to avoid hard but interesting classes outside of my major because I was afraid they might negatively affect my GPA.</p>
<p>3.4, 4th year Biochem/Genetics double major. AP credits got me out of first year calc, chem, and bio, and I jumped into 300 and 400 level classes starting my freshman year, and I’ll have taken 3 grad classes after this semester. Taking classes that are more difficult , and more interesting I might add, has totally been worth the hit my GPA took.</p>
<p>realize that once you break the 3.7 (or so) barrier, no one really cares (as in jobs, grad school, etc.) because at that point, everything else you did matters far more (i.e., internships, research projects and teams, relationships w/ professors, etc.)</p>
<p>Ahh, but if you’re applying to MED SCHOOL, and achieving ~ a 3.8-3.9 isn’t that difficult (i.e. you don’t need to study that much because you grasp the material relatively easily), and you can still manage to do internships, research, etc… that extra .2 or .3 DOES make a difference. ;)</p>
<p>I’m trying to transfer, so I won’t settle for less than a 4.0. I may end up with less than that - maybe a 3.8 -3.9, but I’m only shooting above that and doing my best.</p>
<p>you should try to do the best you can in each class, in a way that leaves you content with yourself after the semester is over, including how you spent your time outside of class.</p>
<p>If you are content studying all the time to get a 3.9, cool. If you want to do other things and sometimes put them ahead of school work and get a lower GPA because of it, cool. As long as you can look back at your semester and say you would do things the same way again, then you did a good job.</p>
<p>I’m not implying that people who have a 3.9 don’t do anything else, just that you should be happy with how you have chosen to spend your time.</p>
<p>What’s the difference between your core average and normal average. Does it matter as much for your electives to have low gpa than your core courses?</p>
<p>I’d agree, but really…if a 3.8 is that easy for you to attain and maintain in your pre-med classes, then I’d guess you’re not really challenging yourself hard enough. Take some tougher courses, do MORE research, etc. But yes, you are right that if you have 5 or 6 publications upon graduation (in reputable journals), have shadowed drs and done hospital work all 4 years, have built strong relationships with every pre-med faculty member and internship supervisor, then your GPA above a 3.7-3.8 probably does matter again…</p>
<p>I would be happy with 3.8
My major gpa at the moment is 4.0 though.
I goto one of the most prestigious film schools though, I figured my GPA wouldn’t matter TOO much. Right now my GPA’s like 3.68-3.7 ish.</p>
<p>I have a 4.0 and am a sophomore majoring in political science with a certificate in public administration and minors in spanish, organizational leadership for non-profits, and economics. I want to go to grad school for public administration, so i’m still shooting for a 4.0 in all of my classes and will most likely achieve it this semester. but next semester I’m studying abroad at a university in buenos aires, so i’m not sure how their grading system will translate into U.S. gpa…oh well, i’ll just go with the flow and try my best. :)</p>
<p>I’d have a 4.0 (freshman - first semester) if my stupid principles of literary analysis class didn’t count. taking that class was a really stupid choice.</p>
<p>I shoot for the 4.0, but I won’t kill myself to get there. I’m content with getting Academic Honors every semester (3.5–but I’ve been getting higher). I’m an English major, Spanish minor, with the goal of a Masters in Secondary Ed.</p>
