<p>I'm a freshman at University of South Carolina Honors College. So my GPA from here won't really compare to someone who gets a good GPA at Duke or Emory or something. Well I do well in classes (valedictorian of high school) but I got a B+ in a seminar class my first semester but As in all my other science classes. I know everyone is going to scream I'm worrying too much, but I'm just thinking of when a med school looks at someone and sees a 4.0 that they instantly have that good stereotype. </p>
<p>Of course the difference between a 3.946 and a 4.0 is minimal, but they still have to look through your grade report with that "It's not a 4.0" mindset. It's like saying my 4.0 doesn't compare to a Duke 4.0, so my 3.9 won't help me at all when I'm applying to Duke or Emory med school. I know there's other things I can do (I'm already applying for research grants, I'll study hard for MCAT, community service), but I guess I just sort of want some peace of mind because this is the first B that I've gotten in like 5-6 years.. haha. I'm sure I'll eventually get other Bs but I'm really good at getting As. At least I didn't get a B in a science course, but assuming I keep up all As (in science courses and even all my other courses), will a 3.9 be the same as a 4.0 (as in it will by no chance be a deciding factor)?</p>
<p>Nothing besides a 4.0 equals a 4.0. Will a 4.0 get you an acceptance where as a 3.9 does not? Unlikely. Focus on maintaining your science GPA at a 4.0, that’s more important.</p>
<p>I also know there’s a separate science GPA that med schools look at, and I know I’ll be fine in the long run but I just want to hear from other people. Like I said I haven’t gotten a B in a while and I got it in what was supposed to be an easy course (it was all about reaction papers, just 5 papers the whole semester), so I was pretty upset about getting the B when I knew that I was capable of getting the 4.0…</p>
<p>Who knows, maybe a 3.9 makes you look more human in the end, but I guess society just has a special way of looking at 4.0s and I’m just thinking about it too much.</p>
<p>I have a 3.9 (3 Bs total). If you get some good interviewers, they will have some small talk with you about why you got Bs. All in good fun and can be humorous. </p>
<p>While 3.9 =/= 4.0, it’s not going to be a deciding factor assuming all of your other stats and ECs are where they should be.</p>
<p>Yea the reason why I got a B is sort of interesting (rather not say it here though, PM me if you’re interested), and now that I think about it I hope that they do ask me about it b/c the way in which it happened is definitely interesting. I knew I could easily get a B eventually in college, but to get it during my first semester in what was supposed to be an easy class is sort of frustrating. I was definitely expecting all As so that’s why it made me worry and post here. Otherwise it’ll just make me focus harder on ECs (I got this covered quite well) and my research (hoping to really get involved with this).</p>
<p>Just a curious thought, were you this obsessed for admissions for UG? Your obsession for perfection is a bit troubling. You still have 7 semesters of UG for Petes sake! My unsolicited advice for you is to not come to CC anymore, and for everything that is holy, don’t go to SDN.</p>
<p>I’d rather be taunted as a robot with a 4.0, medical schools don’t increase your humanism factor inversely proportional to your GPA (except DO schools, zing and just kidding).</p>
<p>Unless its the only non A you ever get (I had a friend who only got one non-A and that was also in his first semester), they probably won’t ask. You honestly will most likely have more interesting stories by then anyways (but then again, I got asked about the one W on my application at one interview so you never know). You don’t need to bolster your ECs based on a single B, just do what your passionate about and make sure you keep on focusing on getting good grade. Also, make sure you learned from whatever experience caused the B, be it your fault or not.</p>
<p>Let’s keep the forum civil though, everyone is welcome to have their questions addressed here.</p>
<p>This thread is full of lol’s. To reiterate, you should count your blessings for not finding SDN yet.</p>
<p>Hopefully as you mature throughout college, you’ll realize that life isn’t only about getting all A’s. Honestly, when I look at the last few neurotic premeds that survived at school, I wonder if they will even be GOOD doctors. Sure, they’re brilliant. They will go to top med schools. But like you even just said, it makes you less human to strive for such perfection! And patients won’t relate to robots, sorry. I believe in being as well-rounded as possible. And if that gives me a lower GPA, so be it.</p>
<p>They absolutely, positively, DO NOT CARE. Your GPA says you can do the work. That’s all that it can tell them. They do not rank people by GPA and admit from the top down. They look at a set of very well qualified applicants, and choose based on other things. Assuming you have a matching MCAT, you would be very well qualified. </p>
<p>Keep up your grades and switch your compulsive thoughts to your MCAT score, medical related activities, or research.</p>