<p>It seems that the average GPA at most top engineering schools is a 2.7. I know this sounds stupid but if I am to engage in an engineering curriculum, how can I prevent this from happening to me? I mean, the kids who get a GPA slightly below a 3.0 already study hard enough!</p>
<p>How can a student who is going to transfer from a California community college to either UCLA or Berkeley prepare himself so that he does not meet this fate? Why is it that the extremely hard working students at these engineering get such low GPAs? What are they doing wrong?</p>
<p>Oh, someone might say "It's because there are so many bright kids working hard there that the curve just goes up". Well, what is the cream of the crop doing to get such a high GPA?</p>
<p>A lot of people from community college transfering to a UC in an engineering major have the same problem. I just graduated from UCD with a 3.7 in engineering and do notice a difference between the top students and the students that hover around a 3.0. The big difference I see is study habits and dedication. Most of the top kids study the "correct" way. This means really learning the material, not just doing the hw and reading the notes, but understanding why things work the way they work. The top kids understand the material on a higher level. The kids with 3.0 GPAs, in my experience, don't study till the last minute and don't understand the material as well. THey can do the homework problems and have read the notes, but if you give them a problem they've never seen, they won't be able to solve it.</p>
<p>Just sheer dedication in your studies and doing well can help your grade a lot. I wasn't the smartest person in my class, but I was really dedicated to do well and studied a lot. I went to office hours every week and studied a week before each midterm.</p>
<p>VERY true pippyvan. You really need to study the material and REALLY understand it so that when you're given a problem you havn't seen before, you can do it no sweat.Just surround yourself with very motivated people- people who go to the library a lot but at the same time, are fun to hang out with.</p>
<p>For me, getting good grades involves looking at example problems for long long long periods of time. I don't exactly go back and relearn everything, or do extra problems. I look over old problems a lot. This allows me to see patterns, and in the end it helps me do better on tests.</p>
<p>Everyone has their own methods; this is mine. It's not as time consuming as going back over everything but it also doesn't work for everyone.</p>
<p>My strategy involves the following:
-Going to every class. Sit away from friends, and take out your notebook ready to absorb and take notes. I listen with great intent, and write down important things. This reduces the amount of time I have to study later
-Every night before I sleep I review every subject for a minimum of 30 minutes (regardless of how far away the test is; again this reduces the amount of time you have to study at the end)
-And like I said above, the night before a test I make sure I understand any patterns I see in homework/example problems</p>
<p>This method reduces total study time, gives you more time to do things you enjoy, and (in my experience) gives you the grades you want.</p>
<p>I think what pippyvan said is basically true. </p>
<p>If you're dedicated enough, you can do very well. You have to make decisions in your life and set your priorities. When I got my grades this semester, I was kind of disappointed in myself and was like "I could have done better" but then I began to think of all of the things I would have to sacrifice to get those grades and I'm not really sure if it's worth it. I had a great time. I made lots of friends. I held an internship. The dean of my college knows who I am because of what I'm involved in. I went on road trips that I'll remember forever. I have memories.... I wouldn't have had those if I had spent the time required to get all A's. Don't think that I'm failing out or anything but I made the decision that I need to maintain a certain standard of life in college and not KILL myself to be perfectly on paper... I think most students make a similar decision that I did and that's why the GPAs are the way they are.</p>
<p>... my disappointing GPA was around 3.4 which I think is kind of low for sophomore level engineering courses.</p>
<p>Great ideas and thoughts here. School is what you make it! Good grades are NOT impossible, even in engineering. I don't know who told you that. I know firsthand a lot of students that get good grades and have fun!</p>
<p>Do not go to Berkeley and expect higher than a 3.0</p>
<p>At a certain level, you just need to be smarter than the others. If you weren't significantly above average than entering Engineering freshman for Berkeley (for your year), do not expect to significantly beat average. This probably means getting an 800 mathIIC score, with an SAT score in the 1500+ range. I've seen people with less just get utterly crushed, despite putting in "the time". I've also seen people with less do quite well, but I wouldn't "expect" to do well before you experience the magic that is Berkeley.</p>
<p>I think what Mr Payne says is quite true. At some point "natural intelligence" plays a role. It isn't really putting in the "time", its more about the quality of how you study. Some people study more effeciently than others or just study the right material. But its true that natural intelligence plays a little bit of a factor in getting the grade you want especially in the classes that curve the grade.</p>
<p>Although, my advice is to still try your hardest with whatever you do. Everyone still has a good chance at the grade.</p>
<p>"Do not go to Berkeley and expect higher than a 3.0"</p>
<p>My friends is doing EECS at Berkeley and she has a 3.8 ... and she says she cruised most the way through. I'm not trying to contradict you but that is the fact of the matter.</p>
<p>Simply on the basis of logic, one could assume she would also "cruise" to a relatively high GPA at MIT (3.5+, under their weighting system). I'd have to disagree with you, she is <em>that</em> smart.</p>