<p>I am a history major. My intention is to get into a good PhD program after I graduate. I understand the imperative of getting a good GPA for my grad school admissions. I was told that it is IMPOSSIBLE to achieve a 4.0 at UCLA (that they will simply lower your grade in one class) is this true? If i bust my ass and to all the readings and take great notes can I get a stellar GPA? Or would I be better going to a less good school where it is less competitive and can for sure get a 4.0? I plan on doing an honors thesis, btw.</p>
<p>No way of getting a 4.0 in UCLA when one says LESS good school lol</p>
<p>Think about this, it has been nine years since a UCLA student got a cumulative 4.0 GPA by the time he graduated.</p>
<p>I don’t know where you came up with this, but I know a student in Engineering who graduated in 2009 who had a 4.0 cum. I also know another kid (also in Engineering) who is carrying a 4.0 into his last quarter and is likely to pull it off as well. I’d bet money that at least a couple of UCLA kids a year pull it off.</p>
<p>It’s super-hard to do, but it happens.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure there was a girl on the news a while back who got a 4.0 from Harvard. It is doable at any university, technically…</p>
<p>Correction, it was at berkeley.</p>
<p>My daughter is a senior at UCLA and about to graduate. She has gotten all A’s in her four years but, alas, one or two were A minuses. So she has a 3.9 gpa. I think it is doable to get a 4.0 but I know my daughter worked very, very hard to achieve her grades so probably not at all easy to do what she did, or to get a 4.0. I really don’t think one professor knows what the other professor is giving someone for a grade so I just don’t think the school “just lowers the grade in one class.” I think if you work hard you can do very well. As to whether or not 4.0 are unachievable, I can’t say.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your insight particularly Inquiringmind2! What tips do you have for achieving the highest GPA i.e. what was it that brought these students to that level of achievement?</p>
<p>@Pinoiako916, uh, are you correcting me? There may have been a Berkeley girl too, but there was one from Harvard. Her name was Brittney Lane. A quick google search of “girl gets 4.0 at Harvard” would have told you that…</p>
<p>As far as what is required to achieve this high GPA… I would say: intelligence, motivation, and extremely good time management skills. Believe it or not, the last of these may be the most important. You must be able to juggle, prioritize and stay ahead of the work load.</p>
<p>i was correcting myself</p>