<p>I'm a Class of 2009 BSE Chem E major, and I would say don't expect to get a 3.8-4.0 when you come here (the first year, at least). I know personally, I thought that getting 5's on AP Chem, AP Physics C, AP Calc, etc. would at least give me some leg up, but everyone here got those, so it makes absolutely no difference. On my hall of 12 kids, 11 of us are engineers, and 1 got a 3.8 or above. Once you get here, you realize that the amount of time a 3.8 or above would require just isn't worth it--you would be missing out on all the stuff Princeton has to offer that probably made you apply here in the first place. Once you get here, your whole perspective on grades changes, and right know you're probably thinking "Oh, I'm not like those other ppl, I can still get A+'s across the board just like I did in high school" but seriously, I was valedictorian in high school and I find myself being really proud of getting a B+ here. So please, don't freak out about GPA's before you even get here--I know you may be disheartened a bit by what I've just said, but it seriously is Princeton, and you don't really realize just what makes an Ivy League education so tough until you get here and experience it for yourself.</p>
<p>So, in order to get a 3.8-4.0 you would not have a life at all?</p>
<p>That might be true for all top 20 schools. If you want high GPA + easy life, go to second tier or lower schools.</p>
<p>If you want 3.8 - 4.0 GPA work hard. How hard you will have to work depends on your abilities.</p>
<p>Also remember that A- is worth 3.7</p>
<p>Also, to answer your other question, grade deflation is/was not a mjaor problem in engineering. Either you have the right answer or wrong answer.</p>
<p>yeah, i think i saw a similar post to that effect.</p>
<p>"Princeton, where your best effort is not good enuff since 17xx" :p</p>
<p>lol....Rabban, thanks for bringing that up..!</p>
<p>Voovi16, the guy who you said has a 3.8+...how smart is he or does he not have a life at all?</p>