<p>So I just completed my first CC semester, and im waiting on all grades except one. I took 15 units, and have A's in all of them so far (except that one).</p>
<p>I can't believe how insanely stressful it is. I know im guaranteed either an A or B, and in fact I should probably calm down and realize I did well in my last class.</p>
<p>The thing is, one B (or even more than one) can still allow me to have a very high and impressive GPA, but knowing that just a single B mathematically eliminates the 4.0 as an option is really irritating.</p>
<p>How much of an advantage does a 4.0 have over a 3.8-3.9?</p>
<p>I kind of wish I'd just get a B already, and ruin the pressure to 'maintain' a 4.0</p>
<p>I was in your situation too. Attempting to be perfect is incredibly stressful. I actually choked under the pressure on a final exam this semester and got my first B. It sucked at first, but I’ve moved on. From my experience, you either succeed at being perfect, or you don’t, and come to the conclusion that school isn’t just about your GPA (Internships, etc).</p>
<p>Oh, and I know this sounds really corny, but it’s a very important lesson that I constantly remind myself of - If you want to make the most of your time, you have to put effort into enjoying the ride; It’s the only real shot any of us have at sustained happiness. You’re perfect right now, so live it up. When you’re not, try to appreciate the silliness of your predicament.</p>
<p>Good Luck,
Nukewarm</p>
<p>P.S.</p>
<p>As for how much a 4.0 sets you apart from a 3.8-3.9? I know that, as college goes, if you can transfer somewhere with a 4.0, you can also transfer there with a 3.8. As jobs go, GPA’s are (in my limited experience) used only to screen at the initial stages of hiring. Your success at either endeavor will depend more on whether or not you have a unique perspective to offer whatever institution you’re attempting to be a part of.</p>
<p>I have experienced the pressures of having a 4.0. I understand the issues involved with being a perfectionist. The upside is far more beneficial than the downside to having a 4.0I think that having and doing my best to maintain a 4.0 pushes me give everything I can to my education. </p>
<p>I would literally cry if I got a B…but this makes me a bit crazy. If you get a B at least you gain back some of your sanity. Hahha.</p>
<p>You need to relax and realize that getting a 4.0 isn’t everything. You should just aim to work your hardest and if you happen to get a couple Bs along the road, your life wont end. Also JC is infinitely easier then the UC you will transfer to, so if you are pursuing a difficult major, you wont keep that 4.0 forever anyways…</p>
<p>Well you’re probably not going to get a 4.0 at your UC so I would stop dreading those B’s so much. Even if you have a joke major you will probably get at least 1 B.</p>
<p>i’ve never really been a 4.0 student…i tried a lot in high school but could just never do it…so i kinda gave up on trying in cc and somehow actually ended up with the elusive 4.0 lol, i don’t know y, but i just found getting good grades a lot easier when i wasn’t trying (i’d get B’s on essays i spent days on while getting A’s on essays i just churned out in a couple of hours in the same class) not sure if this is just me…but when i just do something without trying to make it perfect it seems like i do a lot better…</p>
<p>No one cares if you have a 4.0 or a 3.8. Just try your best and do some other stuff throughout college so you have a better chance at getting into UCB/UCLA. </p>
<p>A little off topic, but some people in this thread are talking about their 4.0s after ONE QUARTER at COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I know this is an accomplishment for you, but not only do a lot of people get 4.0s in a given quarter, but many students from CC are able to graduate with a 4.0. The real test is when you go to a UC and get A’s in upper division courses. There is a reason why no one graduates with a 4.0. UC level classes are considerably harder.</p>
<p>I think the perceived easiness of CC classes make it that much harder for a 4.0 student to accept a B. I had one B in my time at CC, which kills me because it was due to the fact that I didn’t hand in one assignment - intentionally, but still, the class was an easy A. Plus, the fact that many (all?) CCs do not use + or - grading is tough. A guy in my roommate’s bio class just got a final grade of C because his 79.85 grade was .15 point away from the B cut off and the instructor wouldn’t float him. In UC, his grade would have been a B-. Harsh, in my opinion.</p>
<p>on a personal level, you shouldn’t be too ****ed off if u get one B. if u still have a 3.9 thats still better than like 90% of the people at cc. it is, in fact, only .1 or less off ur gpa…</p>
<p>but i think there is some significance of getting a 4.0 gpa compared to a 3.9 gpa. besides the obvious .1 difference, getting a 4.0 demonstrates that u haven’t been thoroughly challenged yet at the cc level and u haven’t reached ur potential. a 3.9 is obviously excellent, but it means you were somewhat tested at a cc level for whatever reason (one low test score, missed some classes, missed one assignment…etc.). you were good, but you just weren’t perfect</p>
<p>like the post above, a 4.0 has the obvious advantage, but you shouldn’t stress over one B. i myself, held a 4.0 until i took a REALLY easy summer school course in which i got a B in, yes, i was not happy with myself, but eventually, i got over it–okay, okay, maybe just a little. but i currently have a 3.96 transferring and i am proud of it. would i have liked that 4.0? of course, but i’m only human and imperfections are what make me stronger than the rest.</p>
<p>Call me crazy, but I think a 3.9 something looks better than a 4.0. Just has a little more personality. And colleges definitely don’t care about a difference that minor.</p>
<p>I’m currently at a UC though, so a 4.0 is pretty much impossible unless you’re in an easy major.</p>
<p>I agree with arcade that a 3.9 may show a little character. Still, IMO, there is very little difference between someone with a 3.9 and someone with a 4.0. Clearly, both the 3.9 person and the 4.0 person felt the same challenge or lack thereof. The difference between these two GPAs is a single grade. A single grade is hardly representative of the difficulty the individual applicant felt while at his college.</p>
<p>Well, I think what Arcade means is that sometimes high school students sound like robots with straight A 4.8 GPAS, 2400 SATs, 800x2 Sat2s and very little extracurricular activities. A transfer applicant with a 3.9 might show the UC that he/she is human in nature and not perfect.</p>
<p>lakerforever: I said that the grade itself has more personality, not that a person doesn’t have a personality if they have a 4.00. Basically, I’d rather see a 3.94 because it looks cooler than a 4.00. Perfect grades are boring.</p>
<p>that’s not a fair comparison. i would agree that a HS student with a 4.8 gpa, 2400 SAT etc. is a nerd (although there’s nothing wrong with being a nerd, just in case a nerd is reading this), but comparing that with a 4.0 CC student is ridiculous. getting a 4.0 gpa in CC isn’t that hard and getting one B wouldn’t prove yourself as having a personality. that’s what the EC’s and essays are for.</p>
<p>edit- ok i guess i know what ur saying. so if someone asked me what my gpa was, and i told it was a 3.9467398, it’ll sound mroe interesting than saying i have a 4.0…</p>