<p>After four years of hs, I'm so ready to actually enjoy learning again. I want to be focused in college, and explore all the different options etc. (won't get to all, but will try :) ) That includes activities that are actually meaningful/fun to me.</p>
<p>My question is, should I even try to strive for a 4.0 in college? I don't know what I want to be yet. I'm interested in psychology now, but who knows right? Should I still try and get a 4.0 just in case I need to go to a competitive grad school later? (I highly doubt that I will become premed, but like i've said, who knows?)</p>
<p>I feel that if i try to get that GPA i'm going to spend the next four years freaking out like i've been the last four years of my life..and that's NOT appealing to me at all. I want to have a more laid back college experience (i'm going to be focused, etc. though) but will that cost me in the end??</p>
<p>I'd focus on learning, on finding things that interest you and exploring them.</p>
<p>I'd be willing to take risks, including trying classes that may be challenging enough (given your strengths and weaknesses and preparedness) that you don't have a chance at earning an A.</p>
<p>I'm not saying not to worry about grades at all, and I do think you should attend class regularly, keep up with all the assignments, and work hard. I think you'll do well enough academically if you do all of these things and if you're the sort of person who could get a 4.0 if that were your main priority. I also think that your teachers will like you better if you're there to learn rather than to get an A (and that will contribute to your ability to get really great letters of recommendation), I think you'll be a more interesting person, and I think you'll be happier.</p>
<p>You may not have all the opportunities that you'd have if you had a 4.0, but you are likely to end up with some that you wouldn't have had if you'd been focused on grades.</p>
<p>Obviously it depends which school you're going to attend, but psych is generally considered a "baby major." And its perception (if you care about this sort of thing) is that its full of people who were too lazy/couldn't make it through the heavy sciences of pre-med qualifications. The group taken as a whole, I think the stereotype is fairly accurate. But no, a 4.0 isn't that important.</p>
<p>Getting good grades is important but getting a 4.0 is not necessary. </p>
<p>It's far more important to lead a diverse college career where you're involved in a lot of activities, hold some leadership roles, etc. than just simply have good grades and that only. I'd take someone with all those things but a 3.9 GPA over someone with none of that but a 4.0 anyday. </p>
<p>I got an A- my first semester so never had a 4.0. I was annoyed at the time, but in retrospect it was actually a blessing in disguise. I was able to challenge myself with some interesting electives for my general education requirements without having to worry about messing up a 4.0 if I didn't ace everything. I still graduated with a very high GPA and had no trouble with grad school applications... was accepted everywhere. All of the non 4.0 grades came from those electives that I took as a challenge to myself... and I received a better education as a result of that exploration. A friend of mine had a 4.0 after the first few semesters and she was then essentially constantly stressed out about keeping it. I told her she had the 'curse of the 4.0.' She actually ended up taking some really easy silly electives to ensure a an A+ (vs taking really interesting courses). In the end, she did get an A- somewhere after a few years and then just totally freaked out and nearly had a nervous breakdown. So good grades are certainly very important, but a 4.0 can often be more of a curse than a blessing.</p>
<p>It's not important to achieve a 4.0 overall GPA in college. What is more important is doing well in your major-related courses, obtaining meaningful internships, and engaging in extracurriculars that interest you. Employers want well-rounded employees. Graduate school only cares about how well you did in your major classes and if you have any research experience. Keep this in mind and enjoy the college experience.</p>
<p>Aim for a 4.0, so when you don't get it, you'll still be in a good position. I was never valedictorian material myself, but I took things on a semester by semester basis. I've had 2 semester of straight A's in high school. (First semester freshman year, first semester junior year <---the hard year!!!---). I've had one semester with three B's (junior year 2nd semester <----the hard year!!!). I've had one semester with two B's (freshman year 2nd semester). And three semesters with one B (Sophomore Year, Senior Year First Semester). Just roll with it, and strive for your best.</p>
<p>I'm going for a 4.0. Why? I need a 3.2 and around 650 GMAT to be able to qualify for my combined MS/BSBA Finance at UF. And I'd like to get my degree Summa Cum Laude. It means a lot to me. But what matters is, what does it mean to YOU? I'm also wanting to get into the I-Banking field where these things are absurdly important, so it's a huge factor for me. To each his own my friend, if it's not the most important thing for ya, by no means kill yourself for it. Be a good student, that should be enough.</p>
<p>Try to stay above a 3.7 and get INVOLVED. In life after college, a high GPA is important (for med/some grad schools), but the experience you get outside of classes is FAR more important!</p>
<p>GregoryMitchell.. were you a psychology major that you know so much about the subject? how about not passing judgments please, even if you were one. It is not nice.</p>
<p>Tweety I don't think it's that un-pc to state that one major is easier than others. Lord knows the football players know this for fact, even if he put it in rather harsh words.</p>
<p>No, but I have taken a bunch of psychology classes, observed the major choices of my peers, and viewed GRE scores by major. And while it would be unfair to categorically state that all psychology majors are dumb, there certainly is a preponderance of dumb people enrolled in those classes. Moreover, not only are the students unintelligent, but the material itself is incredibly simplistic and redundant. You will learn about Milgram's experiments in literally ever god damn class you take. College, especially liberal arts programs, are ideally supposed to teach you problem solving skills and new ways to think. Psychology fails miserably in this regard because it relies on rote memorization far more than any other skill. Where else in the liberal arts besides psychology do you still find multiple choice tests at the upper levels?</p>
<p>Well our school doesn't have multiple choice tests at the upper levels. It was not harsh, it was rude. Calling people "dumb" just because they chose psychology as major is rude. So sure, he states that "not all of them" but he means most of them. My personal opinions is that you shouldn't judge if you've just taken "a bunch of classes". I hated my first two classes and I thought they were simplistic too, but I changed my mind after taking more.</p>
<p>And going back to tnguyen08's post: I you really want a 4.0 gpa, go for it. Just know that it is not the end of the world if you don't have one, and that in a couple of years you won't care that much about your gpa. From my own experience: take classes in different fields (even on a pass/fail basis if you're worried about grades) and use this time to find something that you're really passionate about, because that might last you a lifetime.</p>
<p>For instance, instead of aiming for a 4.0 aim to do research in your field and get an internship sophomore year... etc. Or to take x number of honors-level or upper level courses a semester. And of course to always get the best grades you can - but if you're more specific about what you want to accomplish in college you'll accomplish more (even if you don't get a 4.0.)</p>
<p>Don't try to get a 4.0 for the sake of getting a 4.0. Rather, try to suck all the marrow out of every class you're in and do the best you can. You might not get a 4.0, but you'll definitely do well. And you won't have any weird nervous breakdowns about that dreaded A minus. </p>
<p>I mean, really. Freaking out over an A- is beyond lame and worthless. You could, potentially, get an A and actually retain the same amount or less of the material than you would have with an A-.</p>
<p>Also, how realistic a 4.0 is depends on the college you attend. At my school, fewer than 10 people a year graduate summa cum laude (3.9+). In that light, judging your academic competence by your adherence to a perfect gpa is overly stringent. Your standard should be your personal best.</p>
<p>Don't stress every day about a 4.0. I could have done it this year, but I would have had to have drop something (either swimming, SGA, newspaper, Campus Crusade, or my social life) to move up from a 3.85 to a 4.0. In a lot of classes, you don't have to stress at all to get a B+/A-, but in order to jump to that A you have to do tons more. I had one of those classes that I didn't enjoy, so I focused my time towards my pre-med classes, got high grades in those, but still got a decent grade in the class I didn't like and didn't put any time towards.</p>
<p>I think if you are 3.7+, you should be fine for grad school and the such and what matters at that point is your test scores (MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.) and your extracurriculars and internships. Seriously, internships are important.</p>
<p>The 4.0 is just a number...what's important in college is actually learning, not striving for a perfect number. If you're too focused on GPA, you'll end up taking classes/choosing a major because it will raise your average, rather than taking classes you'll really love, even if you'll struggle a little! </p>
<p>P.S. college gpa doesn't matter as much as you'd think...get to know some professors really well, try for some cool internships and get involved in your college...that honestly matters a LOT more long-term...connections are everything in the real world :-P</p>