<p>In general, what would you say is the "average" GPA at Wustl? Like, approximately...</p>
<p>Is it incredibly difficult or near impossible to get a pretty high GPA like 3.7 to 3.8? I mean, I'm taking a lot of APs and IB classes right now, so my workload is pretty hefty, but I'm just really worried that the workload at Wash U will be over my head. (I currently plan on doing premed, if that helps any)</p>
<p>Making a 3.7 or 3.8 is going to be tough anywhere, but obviously people do it and you certainly have the preparation to do it. One factor making it tougher is that almost all highly ranked colleges now award 3.7 points for an A-, not 4 points. So getting a 3.8 means getting a mixture of solid As and some A minues. On the other hand, they give 3.3 points for a B+, so slipping to an 88 or 89 doesn't blow your average as badly. </p>
<p>There are two factors at Wash U that I believe make your quest a little easier. First, they give credit for more AP and IB tests than most elite colleges, so you should have some extra room in your schedule. With that room you can take the tougher courses (e.g. organic) in a semseter where your load is lighter.</p>
<p>Second, Wash U does allow a limited number of pass/fail courses to count toward your degree requirement. Those cannot be in your major or a required med school class, but you can do it for some of your electives. </p>
<p>With these two allowances, if you plan carefully, you can avoid those killer semesters where you are juggling three or more super tough classes.</p>
<p>The bottom line is it will be tough, but worrying about it will do no good. Tighten up your buckles and go for it. If you don't make it, there is no shame in that. My S would tell you that he has more free time in college than he did in HS, and his GPA is higher in college (though he pulled an all-nighter last night). I think most kids who come out of strong academic programs find that to be true. You will still have time for fun, but you will work hard.</p>
<p>My son was wondering the same thing about Wash U. I went to college at an engineering school well known for grade deflation. The year I graduated, the average undergraduate engineering GPA was only 2.4 (I believe it's a bit higher now, but still pretty low). Needless to say, our school did not send many kids to med school and would not have been a good option for students interested in pre-med. My son is definitely going to take each school's average GPA into account when deciding which school to attend.</p>
<p>Thanks!! So, HartinGA, do you know if Wash U goes by the 3.7 points for an A- system? Or is it just a generalization on elite colleges?</p>
<p>I understand what you're saying, but I'm still incredibly anxious... Right now, my decision is between a great state college and Wash U. My only worry with Wustl is that I've heard about GPA deflation there and I don't want to ruin my chances for a good GPA to get into med school, assuming I'll get a good mcat score regardless of which school I attend. Is it wise to just go to the state college or juke it out at WU for a relatively low GPA?</p>
<p>Average GPA at Wash U was of Spring 07 was 3.41.</p>
<p>The GPA system (outside of Engineering) is A=4, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, etc. Engineering does A=4, B=3, C=2, and doesn't consider + or -.</p>
<p>Go here and read. A lot. Alex's</a> Illicit Guide to Medical School Admissions: a Trusted Source for Premed Students</p>
<p>There are also good threads on CC about med school admission.</p>
<p>I will ask you this one question? How did you get into Wash U? Did you take easy classes to push up your GPA? Or did you take on the tough classes? it is true that med schools key off of GPA more blindly than colleges, but even so, you just don't seem like the type to back down.</p>
<p>Of course it is true that lots and lots of people from every kind of college get into med school. But the percentages don't lie. The percentage who get in from Wash U will be MUCH higher than West Central Tri-City College. </p>
<p>It is your life dude. Don't let anyone else tell you what to do. Find your heart and follow it.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is that well over 50% of students that start as premeds change their minds along the way (usually during their freshman year). If you happen to be one of them, will you be happy at West Central Tri-City College (even with your 4.0 GPA)?</p>
<p>My d is a freshman P-N-P/foreign language double major along with taking the premed prereqs at WashU. She also plays in two campus musical groups (for no credit) and does some volunteering. She attended a very mediocre public high school with 2 APs offered. She has had to work her tail off to keep a gpa above 3.5, but she has been able to do it. Chemistry is a killer for everyone except those phenoms who are just naturally gifted at the subject. Other than chemistry, she has not had that much trouble doing A work in her classes - with a lot of work. Chemistry just takes an insane amount of work to do the same - for her at least!</p>
<p>In my limited experience (1 semester of freshman year), most of the intro classes that are not writing intensive have a very manageable workload. For instance, in classes like chemistry, 3 tests and a final determine your grade (some quizzes in between to make sure you keep up). In these classes, watching lectures online or going to them (3 hours per week) and doing problem sets (1/2 hour a week) may be enough to get A's if one understands the concepts well. Note that if one simply pays attention in class, he or she may only need to spend 1/2 an hour a week on homework for the class. Of course, if someone has trouble understanding a certain concept, this could take significantly more time, but in general the professors are very good at explaining concepts.
However, writing intensive classes, such as the required Writing 1 and my second semester class Mind, Brain, and Behavior seem to take much more time, and many require 10 page final papers. I would recommend against taking multiple writing intensive classes at once, as my roommate sleeps very little in order to get all his work done.</p>
<p>I work my butt off for my 3.4 GPA. I'm in Anthropology, focusing on physical anthropology, specifically paleoanthropology. However, there are people in my classes who are naturally talented in the subject, whereas I have to work hard for my A. I think a lot of GPA depends on course selection, when courses are taken, natural talent and/or hard work. That said, even though I work hard, I do have time for fun stuff and campus involvement.</p>
<p>I think what kjanebarnum said is very true. How difficult a particular class is depends alot of your natural ability/talent in a subject. It also depends on how good your precollege classes in the subject were (regular ole' class, honors, AP, IB, already had a college class in the subject, etc.). I am copying "thats WUt i said's" post and sending it to my D via e-mail (she doesn't CC) - it will make her cry. She goes to every chem lecture AND watches them again on line. The problem sets take her and her study partners HOURS every week to complete. She studys and studys and studys for chem to just get above the mean in the class (she also had horrible high school preparation). She finds it very discouraging, but she is doing the best she can do. On the inverse, she had no trouble getting an A in Cal II, writing, and an upper level language class. My D ended up with a 3.7 gpa her first semester and she worked harder than she has ever worked in her life for that. This semester is even tougher - taking both Bio and her 2nd semester of Chem along with an upper level language class and another class.</p>
<p>Chem is one of the most difficult courses, even the best students find it stressful. Many students go directly to Cal III skipping the two first courses and there are no complains about it, but Chem...you have to see my roommate, all As except Chem.</p>
<p>I've noticed that when the pre-med classes have exams approaching that the library fills up exponentially. Also, it seems like every third person you see has a frantic, frazzled look about them.</p>
<p>I'm interested in how difficult it will be as well. </p>
<p>I'm taking 7 AP classes right now (Physics B, Calc BC, Bio, Stat, English Lit, Comp Sci, Microecon) and have also taken AP Chem (as a junior) and gotten comfortable A's in all of them last semester (except Microecon, which is a semester course). Do you think the workload be a lot for me?</p>
<p>yes, the workload is much much more than taking 7 AP classes, especially if you're doing premed. During the first semester, the class that I worked the most in was obviously genchem, and the first semester was pretty manageable...although be prepared to study about 20 to 30 hours for your genchem tests (this includes doing practice tests and problem sets). I think the main thing that I could have done better my first semester was working a couple of hours every day after class in the library so the work doesn't become overwhelming. Everyone talks about first semester being the hardest, but in my opinion, second semester is probably twice the work. Don't listen to the people out there who say genchem second semester is a joke, it definitely isn't, especially with the professor we have. I'm actually working twice as hard this year, especially since most premed students have an exam every week for the entire semester. After studying for bio for an entire week, I fall behind in chem, and the next week, I study the entire week for chem and then fall behind for bio. Also, you have to juggle your other courses too...especially Chem lab, which people tend to forget about. Although it's very difficult...it's definitely not impossible to do really well at WashU if you just put in the effort and get your priorities straight. In fact, one of my really close friends (a premed) had a 3.95 GPA first semester (got an A- in chem lab--don't blow off chem lab) and all A's so far this semester, and he barely ever worked in high school (where he had a 3.4 GPA--he thinks its a miracle that he even got into WashU). On the other hand, I know a couple of people who had perfect GPA's in high school and were valedictorians who are struggling right now. College is a completely different ballgame and for some people, there really isn't much of a correlation between high school and college success.</p>
<p>@kjanebarnum</p>
<p>yea that usually happens...a lot of ppl though go to the library to catch up on sleep...some of the couches there are reallllllly comfortable :P</p>
<p>In response Shobhit2006's post, I have seen many people who have done average in high school (Below A- average), but have done well in college. Personally, I probably hovered somewhere around the A- average, and then plummeted below that during my senior year. I think that having a relatively weak GPA during high school was one of the most important factors in my success at Wash U. After seeing the results of my college decisions (rejected by almost all the schools I applied to), I realized that GPA was the weakest aspect of my application, whereas it could have easily been a strong point on my application. I did not want a repeat of this situation when applying for grad school or med school, so I turned over a new leaf upon coming to Wash U, payed attention in class, and put in more effort.</p>
<p>To MidwestParent: Sorry to hear about your daughter. Like I mentioned in my previous post, some students may have to put in much more work if they do not understand the concepts. I agree with you and kjanebarnum about some students having natural talent for subjects; I probably averaged only 5 hours of sleep on the nights when I had writing one papers due (though this may be poor time management also). I consider writing to be one of my weaknesses. Also, a final note about GenChem: I don't know what other high schools teach, but I learned almost none of the topics of GenChem in high school, yet managed a 5 on the AP exam. My assumption is that the material is new for most of the students.</p>
<p>Shobhit2006: Congratulations on your 3.95 GPA!!!!!!! WOW
Do you mind sharing what are the classes that you took first semester? How many units did you take first semester? Also, what is your major?
Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, would scoring well on the AP Chem & Bio tests help me avoid some of the science classes that I would have to take with the beastly pre-med students at WashU? </p>
<p>Just wondering...</p>
<p>if you are a pre-med student, is it necessary that you take calc I, II, and III or can I just take calc I and call it a day?</p>