<p>hey everyone
Now I've only been at Stanford for one quarter so I didn't know how to answer this question when someone asked me it. How hard is it to constantly maintain a 3.8 GPA for all four years at Stanford?</p>
<p>Bump!!!!!!!</p>
<p>It depends what classes you take. That might seem like a lame response, but it's true. It's not impossible, but certainly not that easy either.</p>
<p>I agree. It depends on one's own study skills and natural inclinations as well. Some people don't need to study for that long or write multiple drafts for their papers in order to do well. It's hard to guess before getting to Stanford whether they fit ino that category or not. I'll echo what marlgirl said: possible, but definitely not easy. Be prepared to work hard - likely harder than your peers - and don't hesistate to plan ahead and get help every step of the way. For me, college has been much more difficult than high school (this is not the case for everyone), so that mentality has helped me do well.</p>
<p>Thanks. I was specifically talking about a chemistry major if that helps assess how hard it would be.</p>
<p>It's doable, but not easy. Why do you need 3.8? If it is a cutoff for your scholarship, it is very high, and will put a lot of pressure on you.</p>
<p>As a matter of fact, I do need a 3.8 for my scholarship.</p>
<p>^The reason for my posting</p>
<p>Yea, superwizard, a million thanks for your help.</p>
<p>I heard that sometimes if you talk to the "source" of your scholarship, they might lower that GPA requirement to something a bit more reasonable. You can maintain 3.8 at Stanford, but it is going to be VERY stressful if your ability to pay really depends on it. 3.8 is >A- average...</p>
<p>Hi nngmm, yup I will try to talk to the "source".</p>
<p>Yeah, do that, cuz honestly, maintaining a 3.8 in a techie major, particularly in Chemistry, is hard as balls. Not even kidding. Getting an A in every course? Especially with the annoyance that is IHUM and PWR in there? Let the pre-med chem major break it down for you:</p>
<p>Round 1: Organic Chemistry
The curve in this series is insane thanks to nutty pre-meds (which, freshman year, is like, half of your 2010 class). The classes are definitely doable, but they're difficult, and to be honest, the chem department tends to make them more so because we're sore about the fact that most pre-meds go and declare bio as their majors...despite the many reasons why chem/biochem majors have a huge advantage over their bio major counterparts. ;-) See the thread <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=278484%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=278484</a> for some basic advice about chem 33. Talk to me if you still have questions, I rocked the organic chem series.</p>
<p>Round 2: Physical Chemistry
Arguably one the toughest course sequences taught at Stanford, or so I hear. I'm taking it next year. Definitely not a series to be trifled with, which is why most pre-meds don't take it. And they're the craziest ones around. :-P</p>
<p>Round 3: Inorganic Chemistry
I mean, come on, this stuff requires Round 2 as a pre-req...use your sense of logic here. While not as difficult as PChem, it definitely requires a lot of time/effort. A lot of people take Round 2 and Round 3 the same year, but you can split it however your schedule permits.</p>
<p>Final note: the bio major allows for some GPA boosting by letting research count in the GPA...I think we have something similar in chem, but not quite familiar on this...I'll update as I get info once I talk to my advisor back on campus. Hope all this helped. I'm not trying to deter anyone from becoming a chem major, but just want to put into perspective that it's tough, and that it requires a lot of effort. Good luck! :-)</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
The curve in this series is insane thanks to nutty pre-meds (which, freshman year, is like, half of your 2010 class).
[/QUOTE]
That made me laugh so hard! That's sooo true! More than half the people I know are 'pre med majors' and the other half are thinking about taking the required pre med classes 'while they're at it'. Even I'm having second thoughts myself! Please tell me that people change their minds later on!</p>
<p>"Please tell me that people change their minds later on!"</p>
<p>At least half of them do.</p>
<p>maintaining a 3.8 gpa is pretty difficult.</p>
<p>try hard man</p>
<p>One of the big problems with this kind of GPA requirement is that you will end up choosing classes with your ability to get an A in that class in mind instead of following your interests & curiosity. And that really is a shame at a place like Stanford that offers so many possibilities.</p>
<p>Indeed, nngmm. That's one big factor that I have considered. :D Let the dilemma begin lol.</p>
<p>Hmm so how about physics?</p>
<p>You don't have to be super brilliant to have a 3.8+ in physics through 1st quarter of sophomore year. In fact, you can be about average or perhaps even a bit below average. After that I have no clue...</p>
<p>Marlgirl, you are a physics major? :D</p>