Tips on how to maintain a 4.0

[deleted421268]

Any advice and tips on what it takes to maintain and keep around a 4.0 at college???

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[el_duderino]

The best way is to get nothing but As.

 

[Flashfan]

I am a lowly 3.98 but the key to my success is to set a schedule and follow it. I don't wait until the last minute to do an assignment. I work at pace or ahead so that I have time for a life.

 

[Narmerguy]

I think it's unnecessary to try to focus on getting a 4.0. That's impractical in most cases. Just focus on taking a balanced courseload that is both challenging and manageable. Manageable means you can do your best in the course without having to sacrifice your sanity or your ability to take part in other activities that are relaxing for you or perhaps add to your application. A 3.8 with strong ECs and your own personal happiness is a better way to go than a 4.0 and limited involvement in anything or all the stress that comes with focusing too much on keeping all A's.

If you're someone who is very good at managing your academics, the best way I've found for maintaining strong grades is to not think about it too much. It just adds needless pressure and distraction. Take each semester and each class at a time, do your best, and choose classes that you are interested in because you'll devote more effort to them. Study when you say you'll study, and eliminate distractions. The rest will follow--or it won't, which is fine, because a 4.0 really doesn't matter. Sorry that's probably not the answer you want to hear but I think it's worth sharing.

 

[bambam92]

I came into UG with same mindset as you OP--it is not worth it. Keep is above a 3.8 and I don't think that will rule you out from any school honestly. At least as far as GPA goes. I am going into senior year, and know some people who still haven't had their precious 4.0's broken, but damn they like to let people know about it. Kind of annoying I think. But keep in mind I am a lowly 3.87 scrub on the outside looking in 😉.

 

[DoctorWhoo]

One simple rule has made all the difference in my pre-med experience: Never make excuses for yourself.

If you aren't understanding something, get help. If life is getting rough, don't let yourself play the victim. If you feel like you don't have time for X, Y, or Z, reprioritize your commitments and cut out nonessentials. Plan ahead. If the MCAT has you worried, don't let yourself get paralyzed. If submitting your app has you worried (guilty) don't delay it (see "Plan Ahead").

tl;dr take control of your future and don't be the victim of circumstance... You'll get a 4.0 (or close enough) and do well, with a touch of luck.

 

[Theafoni]

Commit to the syllabus for any class, make sure to absorb and understand everything on there.

Become the "teacher's pet"--ask questions and regularly speak in class, and attend office hours regularly, not necessarily to suck up, but to show interest in course. You'll be adored by your instructor's if you show actual interest in the material. Let's say if your on the edge between a B+ and an A, the instructor might just give you an A because they see you were committed to the class. Sometimes they may just give you an A regardless. Oh and don't forget to regularly compliment them, "you look fabulous today Mrs. Smith", "Have you been working out Prof Lee" etc., ask them about their life and how they are doing, other small talk, these things really go a long way.

As for classes with labs and TAs that grade harshly, pretty much do the same thing such as attending TA office hours and asking for feedback, just be ready to do a bit more puckering of those lips

 

[Dr.TonySoprano]

Let's say someone does have a 4.0 with good EC's. Now does it "not matter"?

 

[Lawpy]

Let's say someone does have a 4.0 with good EC's. Now does it "not matter"?

Once the GPA exceeds 3.8 (or even 3.9), pursuing a 4.0 is meaningless. I mean it's good, but a 4.0 with good ECs is the same as a 3.8 with good ECs.

 

[el_duderino]

Let's say someone does have a 4.0 with good EC's. Now does it "not matter"?

All else being equal, a 4.0 vs a 3.85 probably won't get you into a significant better school.

 

[Aerus]

The difference in what a 4.0 vs. a 3.8 will tell you about a person is insignificant. The difference in amount of stress between the two is pretty different, though.

 

[Caffein3]

If you really want a 4.0, go for it! Don't worry about it "making a huge difference" in your application. If you want to just prove to yourself you can do it, or maybe it's just a goal for you, I think its great. Just work hard. Having and maintaining a 4.0 is about diligence and having the determination to go to office hours, studying extra hard late at night, and not giving up on your work. Just make sure that if you want a 4.0 you don't forget about being balanced and having great EC's.

 

[Doctor Dream]

This isn't always the case, but sometimes I think adcom's will look at people with 4.0's as people who didn't really push themselves academically in their UG. A lot of people can get a 4.0 if they take pre-reqs at an easy CC, and then transfer to an easy UG and major in Psych or something (no offense, psych majors)

 

[FFH]

If you want to have a life and learn according to what's most interesting/challenging: then it's not only hard but also meaningless to have a 4.0.
If you were really sure that you need the good grades, on the premise that you maintain a good EC, you should pick the easiest class, find the most lenient professor, and do the work that matters the most to the grade. It's not the most glorious way to go through college this way, but it works if your goal is 4.0+good EC. I did this during my second bachelor degree, because it's my third degree taken only to satisfy the rules that I must have US science education. I really couldn't devote more time to harder class given that I have 1 full time job, 1 part time job, volunteer and two dogs. I did a few days of research and picked the class and the professors that I believe that I can handle. Stick to the a preset schedule for the next 3 years, then booya.

Here is some words of wisdom that I find comforting: Best students aren't those who don't procrastinate; they are just very efficient when they aren't procrastinating

 

[FFH]

All else being equal, a 4.0 vs a 3.85 probably won't get you into a significant better school.

What about scholarships? wouldn't a 4.0 stands a better chance? or is it MCAT that matters more in terms of getting a huge discount at medical education?

 

[justAstudent]

What about scholarships? wouldn't a 4.0 stands a better chance? or is it MCAT that matters more in terms of getting a huge discount at medical education?

It'll take more than an impressive GPA or MCAT to garner any big scholarships.

 

[cupcakesandcadavers]

my advice:
frat hard, frat often

 

[Narmerguy]

What about scholarships? wouldn't a 4.0 stands a better chance? or is it MCAT that matters more in terms of getting a huge discount at medical education?

The big scholarships I have seen have usually involved monstrous MCAT, URM, or very uncommon ECs (olympian, Rhodes Scholar, etc etc).

 

[allantois]

EVERY point matters!!! I can't stress that enough. You need to address any issues early. For example, if I got an A- on my paper (which never happened to me btw), I would go talk about what it is that I failed to meet to get an A. Also, if it's a writing class then I would show my essay to the teacher before deadline and correct whatever they want me to correct before handing it in for grading (the reason I never got an A- in the first place) so when they grade it, it meets all their expectations.
If it's a lab, then you also need to ask TA about the reason points were taken from you. For Gen Chem 2, I would stay after 9 pm (when my lab was over) and go over every write-up and would ALWAYS get some points back. I turned out to be the only person to end up with an A in that lab. Basically, if it's a course that's graded subjectively, you need to show the teacher that you really do care and won't just leave them alone unless they are forthcoming.
If the class is graded objectively (e.g. all tests are multiple choice) then you can't really argue with grading you just need to know all professor's rules and policies and do exactly what they say. Don't try to be the genius and do something else. If you know the class if hard, then take advantage of ALL extra credit opportunities!! If you get a bad grade on a test (and to me anything below an A is bad), go look at what questions you got wrong and ask yourself what you could have done differently to achieve a higher score and what it is that you can (and should!) change in your studies to do better next time. Be flexible and adjust accordingly.

You don't need to be the top student, just in the top 10 (or so) percent. Also, my psych class turned out to have lower average than OChem, so sometimes you may think that you are registering for an easy class, and it turns out to be brutal. Do your research.

 

[Selladore235]

I think it's unnecessary to try to focus on getting a 4.0. That's impractical in most cases. Just focus on taking a balanced courseload that is both challenging and manageable. Manageable means you can do your best in the course without having to sacrifice your sanity or your ability to take part in other activities that are relaxing for you or perhaps add to your application. A 3.8 with strong ECs and your own personal happiness is a better way to go than a 4.0 and limited involvement in anything or all the stress that comes with focusing too much on keeping all A's.

If you're someone who is very good at managing your academics, the best way I've found for maintaining strong grades is to not think about it too much. It just adds needless pressure and distraction. Take each semester and each class at a time, do your best, and choose classes that you are interested in because you'll devote more effort to them. Study when you say you'll study, and eliminate distractions. The rest will follow--or it won't, which is fine, because a 4.0 really doesn't matter. Sorry that's probably not the answer you want to hear but I think it's worth sharing.

This. All of it, especially the bolded part. A 3.8+ w/ strong ECs will garner an acceptance before a 4.0 w/ weak ECs because guess who's going to have more interesting things to say in their application and on interviews.

 

[Skull Pell]

Big part of it too that hasn't been discussed yet is the difference a great professor makes. I actually enjoyed the material when you know the professor really likes his job and/or have used the same techniques to former students that worked best. But at the end of the day, you still have to earn the grade and spend time learning the material yourself. As others have already mentioned, research goes a long way.

 

[Blizzard18]

I graduated with my 4.0 this year in biochemistry. My advice: it's way overrated. The amount of time you end up sacrificing with friends and family just to stay "perfect" isn't worth it and doesn't make a difference compared to a 3.9 or something like that when it comes to applying for medical school. If I could redo, I'd give it up for a 3.9 and spend a little more time with my friends. But hindsight is 20/20 and back then I thought it would be the end of the world. Don't let life slip by, no one is perfect. And if they think they are, it just shows how much they aren't. Booyah son 🙂

 

[Time Table]

I'm at a 3.7 right now, striving for a 3.8/3.9. I've kept my sanity, and at the same time, I've still had fun. as much as I'd love to have a 4.0, I'd rather have fun while I'm having a good GPA.

 

[mrh125]

Be fine with a 3.9 and just chill. give it your best effort but if you dont get all As realize theres more to getting into med school than flawless grades. If you ask me a few good failures can really help you learn more.