GPA Woes and Having a Life

<p>To put things in perspective, I'm one of those...those nerds who take the AP classes and work till 2 am and come back home from school at 7pm because of clubs. I really want to attend a top school, and I believe I have deeply important and excellent extracurriculars. However........GRADESS @#$%#$%#%^.
Yeah, basically, teachers can be sadistic, the system is characteristically unforgiving, and I just can't possibly get A-pluses in everything like the smartest kids in my school.
Let's say I have a 3.75, and another kid has a 4.0, having taken the same rigorous courseload.
Let's also say that my extracurriculars are AS MUCH better than his as his GPA is better than mine.
What wins, if you want to go to HYP? Getting the most amazing grades in AP everything? Or being on the average side with grades (with a rigorous courseload) and being more involved with school/community/ and getting a few more awards?</p>

<p>I'm so sorry for the long post! It's just bugging me because my math grade dropped 5 points in one day, right before finals :( I feel like my GPA is going to totally hinder me.
Any opinions would be appreciated!</p>

<p>You sound like you still do amazing! The difference between a 3.9 and a 4.0 if the 3.9 has a bunch of ECs and the 4.0 doesn’t isn’t that big…but there are many other factors. Recommendations, leadership, essays, etc…So just try as hard as you possibly can and don’t let stuff like this bug you.</p>