Harvard Classes/GPA-ADVICE!!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I just got my gpa back, a dismal 3.3 :/ but I guess it's average, and considering that my gpa only consists of three classes (two of them being life sci and math) I know I can boost it higher. I can definitely see my faults in waiting to study until a few days before exams, and being too concerned with getting answers for p-sets rather than learning the material. I also had some personal adjustment issues and, not to sound like a nutcase, a bout of minor depression (which I know is not an excuse). Before my slump I was getting A- on midterms and 100% on p-sets, and after those numbers just kept going down. By the time I realized what I was doing to myself, it was finals period, and already too late to dramatically change things. I don't mean to be arrogant, but for how little I worked I feel like I did surprisingly okay. </p>

<p>I want to take a 5th class this semester, and I know that sounds dumb, being that I'm continuing with all of my old classes, but I would like to boost my gpa by taking a class that really interests me, and that has a relatively light course-load. I would prefer a class that is reading/discussion based with maybe midterms or finals and a paper. Any suggestions? So far I'm thinking History of Social Science, HISTSCI 150. I think keeping myself busy will inevitably keep me on task (I know that sounds dumb, but if you give me 3 hours to do a 1 hour assignment, I will guiltily procrastinate for 2.5 hours; whereas if you give me one hour to do a one hour assignment, I will stay on task).</p>

<p>Lastly, I would TREMENDOUSLY appreciate an answer to my next question: Will my 3.3 gpa make me ineligible for summer programs? I want to apply for internships and medical research programs mainly at other ivies that have a min. 3.0 gpa. Obviously my gpa is above the min. requirement, but do I still have a chance? Have any of you been admitted to programs with a gpa similar to mine?</p>

2

<p>bumpity bump…</p>

3

<p>

</p>

<p>3.3 isn’t dismal. That’s what, like a B+ average? As much as it seems like everyone at Harvard has 3.8+ sometimes, they don’t. Not even close. Especially pre-meds, which I’m guessing you are. I’m also assuming you’re a freshman. You have 7 more semesters at Harvard, like 5 of which will be spent accumulating a “math and sciences” GPA for med school admissions. Just isolate what you have to improve and improve it and you’ll be fine.</p>

<p>What classes did you take first semester? LS1a and a freshman seminar I assume, but what were the other two?</p>

<p>I would avoid taking 5 graded classes in a semester if you’re unhappy with your grades from last semester. </p>

<p>Don’t assume that a non-hard science class like in the histsci department will be a “gpa booster.” If you think you’ll do well because it interests you, fine. But if you succumb to pre-med snobbery and think a class with reading and essay-midterms and papers is by definition easier than a pset class, you’re wrong. It has been my experience that the majority of students in paper-writing classes get B+s. If you consider yourself no more of an exceptional paper-writer than the average Harvard student, it will just be another 3.33 in your GPA. If you are a very good paper-writer along Harvard standards you will get an A-. If you are the best in the class you will get an A. Of course this varies by class, some are easier than others. But the curve in a paper-writing class is very different than the curve in a lifesci-like class. Also keep in mind it sounds like you’ll be taking expos next semester since you didn’t take it this one.</p>

<p>If you want any additional, specific advice about classes feel free to PM me. Or ask your PAF or something.</p>

4

<p>3.3 doesn’t make you ineligible. 3.0 is the cutoff for most. If you’re competing with other Harvard kids, though, you’re GPA won’t help. If you’re not, then the Harvard brand name does help</p>

5

<p>I had a couple friends take a HISTSCI class this past semester, and it wasn’t just a push over class. I don’t know which one they took, but when I heard about their grades, I heard mostly B+ or A-.</p>

<p>And don’t worry, my GPA isn’t great either, and I’m premed. I know I didn’t work as hard this semester as I could have (I didn’t even take LS1a or math), so I know I’m going to have to work my butt of in the future, but hey, that’s life.</p>

6

<p>Thx for the advice, I guess it’s probably not smart to try and take a 5th. After all, Getting 5 As instead of 4 will not affect my overall gpa, as the cumulative gpa is averaged by semester, and not by individual course. I am a freshman and yes I am pre-med (I did math/life-sci, a seminar, and a language-pretty standard).</p>

<p>Should I even bother applying to any programs though? I’m not sure if it is worth my time. Of course the only way to find out is to apply, but I would appreciate some success stories lol.</p>

7

<p>

</p>

<p>It is averaged by course, not semester.</p>

8

<p>Does anyone know what a rough distribution of grades are at Harvard? I know that a B+ average was about the 50th percentile in the 80s – have things changed that much since then?</p>

9

<p>Average grade awarded, undergraduates, for academic year
1914,1915, 1963 and 1967 estimated from freshman grades.</p>

<p>1966 and 1975 estimated from percent A’s awarded or percent A’s and B’s combined using formulae derived from grades from other selective admissions liberal arts colleges and universities.</p>

<p>Note: In our analysis of long term grading patterns across the US, we use the percentage of students who made the Dean’s List as a proxy for Harvard’s GPA from 1920-1949 and 1950-1984. This proxy is an excellent predictor of GPA from 1985-2001 and for 1950.</p>

<p>1889-2.46
1914-2.4
1915-2.4
1950-2.55
1963-2.7
1966-2.8
1967-3.0
1975-3.05
1985-3.17
1986-3.21
1987-3.23
1988-3.24
1989-3.28
1990-3.30
1991-3.30
1992-3.31
1993-3.31
1994-3.33
1995-3.36
1996-3.38
1997-3.38
1998-3.40
1999-3.42
2000-3.41
2001-3.39
2002-3.41
2003-3.42
2004-3.43
2005-3.45</p>

<p>Source:</p>

<p>American Scholar, v. 45, 1976</p>

<p>Annual Report of the President, 1916</p>

<p>Harvard Crimson April 21, 1890</p>

<p>Harvard Crimson January 8, 1968</p>

<p>Harvard Crimson February 13, 2004</p>

<p>Harvard Crimson August 15, 2005</p>

<p>Harvard Crimson May 09, 2007</p>

<p>[National</a> CrossTalk – Vol. 10 / No. 3 – Summer 2002](<a href=“Highereducation.org”>Highereducation.org)</p>

<p>Lewis, Harry, Excellence Without a Soul, 2006</p>

<p>Office of the Dean</p>

10

<p>Is the average seriously 3.45? That would suck for me.</p>

11

<p>That sounds about right. The APO indicates that a cum laude designation was awarded to nominated candidates with GPAs above the 50th percentile, which was 3.43 or 3.45 (not sure).</p>

12

<p>Hey, could someone please explain to an international how GPA is calculated? From the very very basics please…</p>

13

<p>^At Harvard? An A in a course is equated to 4.00, an A- 3.67, a B+ 3.33, etc. Your overall GPA is the average of all these courses. This is compounded with each class, not by semester or year. Meaning one semester’s GPA can be worth more than another if you take 5 classes in one and 4 in another.</p>