<p>How hard is it to get a high GPA (3.7+) in mechanical or electrical engineering at a top engineering school?</p>
<p>I would think near to impossible, but there are tons of variables. I know the engineering average GPA at my school is below 3.0.</p>
<p>Pretty damn hard. But possible.</p>
<p>Why do you ask this question? </p>
<p>... because if getting a good GPA is what you're worried about(for grad school or some other reason) then engineering may not be the best choice of majors.</p>
<p>A 3.7+ GPA in engineering puts you in the top ~12-15% here at GT (according to various engineering honor societies that offer membership based on class rank). So it is possible.</p>
<p>What is considered a "top engineering school?" Top 20? Top 25?</p>
<p>Probably top 10.</p>
<p>When I said "top engineering school" I meant top 10.</p>
<p>At most engineering schools I believe the 75th percentile is ~3.5. Your SAT scores and GPA as an incoming freshman compared to the rest in your major correlates well with your final position.</p>
<p>Not necessarily. I know a bunch of kids who were great students (3.6-3.9) students in HS with great (1350+) SATs who couldn't even pull a 3.0 first semester. Most were 2.5-2.7. College work, especially engineering, is too different from high school to know that those who did well in high school will do well in college. While its assumed and for the most part, true, there is definently a large chunk who this doesn't apply to. Then again, there's a large chunk that do better. So, it can swing both ways. Its just niave to say "well how you did in high school will be generally how you do in college"</p>
<p>Great students had a 1350+ & 3.6-3.9 GPA might be below average for a schools engineering program.</p>
<p>Someone with a 1350 who happens to get into to EECS @ Berkeley will get dominated pretty hard, because the average is much more capable than that.</p>
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Someone with a 1350 who happens to get into to EECS @ Berkeley will get dominated pretty hard, because the average is much more capable than that.
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<p>somehow this made me ROFL real hard</p>
<p>I'm speaking on average, before anyone gets in a tizzy.</p>
<p>I got a 3.6/1380 and am at Virginia Tech EE and doing well. Obviously my GPA is lower by .2, but im still above average. I know kids with the same stats that are and arn't doing as well. So saying a 1350 is low is cruel, especially since most engineers probably have high math scores, but lower verbal, which is why they're in engineering.</p>
<p>Basically, if you take someone who has an IQ of 120 and you put them in a class with a bunch of people who have an IQ of 135 it's unreasonably to expect them to compete. IQ correlates well with academic success. The SAT is a pretty good at correlating to IQ (or else they wouldn't use it).</p>
<p>You, posting your SAT score, is helping my point. An SAT of 1380 is above the VT average, so it's no surprise you do well.</p>
<p>not really, I know a friend of a friend whose IQ is 128 but he won a medal in IPO. So it could be that the IQ test was messed up, or he was playing dumb during the IQ test or there is no correlation between IQ and academic achievement. I prefer the third one.</p>
<p>The 3rd one would be highly incorrect. Academic performance correlates well with IQ.</p>
<p>A single data point has no relevence.</p>
<p>I would say 3.7 is exceedingly difficult. I've had classes where I've aced all the tests and ended up with a B+... they don't give out many A's in engineering.</p>
<p>Personally, i'm still struggling to get to that magical 3.0 point (just 0.08 to go!)</p>
<p>From what I can see, 3.7+ is doable but requires a lot of hard work and dedication just about every day of the week. While doing well on tests is one thing, I think that your high school background may either help or hinder you when it comes to organizing projects and writing papers. No time for slacking!</p>
<p>I think effort AND IQ factors into collegiate success equally; you can't do well without both. I've known plenty of people who did amazing in high school, but depended on their intelligence alone. When they got to college, they struggled mightily under the heavy course load of engineering.</p>