<p>Ok I'm applying to some top schools and am pretty much relying heavily on my GPA. My total SATs are not that great, my ECs aren't too impressive, and I have pretty much NO leadership in any of my ECs. My question is: What is the difference between a 4.0 UW and a 3.98 ? Will colleges look at a 4.00 and be totally impressed and then look at a 3.98 (one B) and consider your GPA just very good and on a similar plane as all the other 3.9 applicants.</p>
<p>For that matter, on my best section on the SAT, math, i got a 790. Is there a big difference between that and a 800.</p>
<p>I'm not trying to sound conceited at all, but to get into some of the schools im looking at, im gonna need something to jump out. a 4.0 and a 800 math would really help, but does a 3.98 and a 790 not jump out as much and is it just like another 3.9 and another upper 700?</p>
<p>Dude you gotta be kidding me.
Do you seriously think that colleges would care about the 0.02 difference?
And do you seriously think that colleges would look at math 790 and look down on you because of the 10 minus?
Don't worry buddy. Colleges aren't dumbasses.
In short
3.98=4.00 and 790 = 800</p>
<p>I was in your position a couple of weeks ago when I received my transcript. It appeared that a 93% (an A-) in one of my classes sophomore year broke my 4.0 UW to a 3.98 UW. I felt really bad about it because I was always able to say, "Yeah, my GPA is 4.0", but now I can't. Looking at it a little bit more maturely, I realize that it really is inconsequential. Don't worry about it. As other posters have said, these extremely small differences in scores and GPA are meaningless. A college is not going to choose someone else over you on the basis of that small of a difference. It is going to come down to EC's, essays, and the overall personality and passion you show in your app. You will be fine; no worries!</p>
<p>Agree with what everyone has said. Remember that colleges use the GPA and scores to put you in the ball park or out of the ball park. Once you're in the ball park, they'll look at the other, more subjective considerations. The difference in GPA and score is not going to keep you out of the ball park.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Dude you gotta be kidding me.
Do you seriously think that colleges would care about the 0.02 difference?
And do you seriously think that colleges would look at math 790 and look down on you because of the 10 minus?
Don't worry buddy. Colleges aren't dumbasses.
In short
3.98=4.00 and 790 = 800
[/quote]
actually, psychologically, an 800 looks better than a 790, as opposed to comparing a 770 and 760. it's just like how you might buy something for 19 dollars, but maybe not 20?
but that wont be the reason why they might reject you.</p>
<p>Though a 3.98 and 4.00 are technically equal, you have to consider that your application will be looked at by human beings.</p>
<p>I'd imagine their gut feeling will lead to a significantly favorable impression with the nice, round, even 4.0</p>
<p>That's why it sucks getting a 1990 on the SAT. Maybe it should be said: try not only to get high scores, but get high scores that are aesthetically pleasing!!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'd imagine their gut feeling will lead to a significantly favorable impression with the nice, round, even 4.0
[/quote]
That's a stretch.</p>
<p>You can't compare admissions committees to average, everyday people who might say "4.0 looks better than 3.98" for the sole reason that it's "nice and round".</p>
<p>They go through thousands upon thousands of applications and select a class fit for their school as a job. They are not idiots, they know what they are doing, and they know what to look for. They can objectively look at numbers and know that a 3.98 is not different from a 4.00, or that a 790 and an 800 are the same.</p>
<p>I was actually thinking of the opposite reaction</p>
<p>They may not consciously admit it, but going through dozens of 3.8x's 3.9x's day in and day out only makes spotting a 4.0 that much more exciting.</p>
<p>The lay person may see a 3.9x and think that it's remarkable - and heck, it's only 0.0x off of a perfect</p>
<p>But to an admissions counselor, the 3.9x will just be another routine 3.9x - no matter how close it is to 4.0.</p>
<p>You say that repetition leads to tolerance, but I think that familiarity leads to a more refined discrimination for what does or does not stand out in a highly uniform area of college admissions (GPA)</p>
<p>Looking at each college's webpage on Admission Statistics is a good indicator of how they will perceive your GPA and SAT score. Contrary to what several posters have said, Princeton, for instance, will deem a 3.98 as simply a high 3.9. They give 4.0s their own seperate category.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the way Princeton groups SAT scores for statistical purposes, is very amusing. It looks like they are considering everyone with a 2100 to 2290 as being in the same group. I know a friend of mine with a 2180, who would kill for a 2290 - but I guess to Princeton, that's the same thing! :P</p>
<p>Thing is...with the SAT, you almost have to be lucky to get 800's</p>
<p>For example, you could memorize the dictionary the week before but still get hit with a RIDICULOUSLY obscure word on the CR section...you'd have to be lucky to know it.</p>
<p>Or, you know your math...you breeze through calculus like it's arithmetic. On the SAT's you're sure of all your answers...little did you know you pressed 8 instead of 5 on your calculator on the last problem...these things HAPPEN.</p>
<p>The only time a 790 would be considered "not good enough to stand out" would maybe be, like, the math section on an MIT app.</p>
<p>Weighting and distribution are effective mainly for mid level grades. The difference between the 790 and 800 is literally one question, which you might get lucky on as 2-iron outlined.</p>