<p>I'm currently a junior with a 4.0 and I've taken 4 AP's so far and I plan to take 4 more next year, my parents make a huge deal out of my grades and the semester is about to end next week and I have an A- in ap chemistry (I've never taken chemistry before so this was a struggle so I am proud of it, no doubt) I'm literally .05 away from a solid A and we have one more test (probably not having finals) and even if I did get an A I'll fall short by a little and idk if my teacher rounds up grades so yeah. Anyways, is like a 3.98-3.99 somewhere around there that much of a difference than a 4.0 to colleges when applying? I know I have a ways to go and I don't plan on going anywhere huge like harvard or something, I wanna go to university of washington. It's hard to convince my parents that I really did try hard in that class and I know how disappointed they would be but I feel like it's not that big of a deal. I do want to stand out when I apply for college (working on the ACT and EC's, I know it's not only the GPA that counts!) It's just frustrating with all the pressure considering the fact that my brother goes to the u.s. air force academy and I already "can't compare" to him.</p>
<p>There is zero difference between a 3.98 and a 4.0 at virtually any college. The only time such a small difference makes a difference is when you have hard cutoff for things like auto admit and scholarships - then there is no leeway between a 3.48 and a 3.5, if the cutoff is 3.5.</p>
<p>For the record, getting an A- in AP Chem with no prior chemistry experience is quite a feat - that’s not generally the recommended way to take that class and anyone who thinks you should do better should be handed the book and told to go try it themselves. Parents included.</p>
<p>Also, getting into the military academies is impressive for the commitment it indicates, but the grade and test score requirements are not all that high compared to other elite schools.</p>
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<p>What, did your parents read Amy Chua’s WSJ piece as a parenting manual?</p>
<p>Yeah, makes sense, I just wish they weighted GPAs at our school 
I’ve definitely realized why it’s recommended as a 2nd year chemistry course haha and thank you! means a lot.</p>
<p>My mom is korean, super strict, guess you could call her a tiger mom haha</p>
<p>Is the University of Washington even an “acceptable” school for you to attend from her point of view? (Are you a resident of Washington, or is it otherwise affordable?)</p>
<p>I’m a resident, and I plan on trying to go into the medical field later on down the road if possible, so she’s fine with it since she knows they have one of the top medical schools.</p>
<p>I’m sorry you are getting that kind of grief over one A-, just tune it out, you are fine. And colleges give AP classes consideration even if your school doesn’t weight.</p>
<p>thank you, I’ll try to. Yeah true, probably more worth it than getting an A in regular chem</p>
<p>The admissions people will view a B in an AP class as more impressive than an
A in a nonAP class.</p>
<p>Rigor usually trumps perfect 4.0.</p>
<p>My son had a 3.85 (horrors!!! the shame!!!) and got into a top Ivy early anyway.</p>
<p>I’m sorry that you’re under the pressure you’re under. Most likely, your parents are doing it because they think it’s the right thing to do, but perhaps you can tell them (in the gentlest way possible) that additional stress keeps you from working at your peak efficiency.</p>
<p>With GPA of 3.98 or 3.99, you are likely having 1 or 2 A- in among all the other A/A+. Many school do not count the subgrades if they do recalculate your GPA. In that case, it will be 4.0.</p>
<p>KKmama, yeah very true, i keep trying to get that point across to them but they don’t listen haha. IxnayBob, wow good job to your son 
yeah i figured it’s cause they only want what’s best for me even though they didn’t mind that my brother graduated with a 3.86 
but i’ll try that!
Billcsho: i had no idea they did that, that helps. thanks!</p>