<p>That's my d's high school (unweighted) GPA calculation.</p>
<p>you got a 4.0 for an 89.5....</p>
<p>that was definitely a 3.0 at my school, or a 3.5 if the teacher was NICE enough to round up to 90.</p>
<p>Just go to a college where they give A's for effort, and your GPA will be fine.</p>
<p>I met a kid who had a 3.2 in HS (1500 SAT/some new england prep school, so that isn't a normal 3.2) and he had a 3.8 this year.</p>
<p>Another guess, is that people might need to work to afford tuition, books, life... Also, maybe people who got into those prestigious schools don't feel they have to impress anyone anymore because they are already in.</p>
<p>I dunno!</p>
<p>Actually, mrogre, studies have shown that kids who work part-time do better in class & with grades than kids who don't. They have to learn time management skills, and how to focus. They tend not to procrastinate as much as someone who has lots of time.</p>
<p>A girl who got 3A1B4D1E (F and U are fail grades)in 9 subjects in a public exam in Hong Kong got a silver medal in International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). Even the gold medalist got a B and a C out of 8 subjects in the public exam. I guess over there, you can easily get higher GPA in colleges than in high schools. Medaling in IPhO is one of the great hooks for schools like MIT/CalTech and now you know what harsh grading is. By the way, the US team got 2 golds, 2 silvers, and a bronze this year; results for all countries haven't been available but my guess is the US team would probably fall in the top 10 but probably not top 5.</p>
<p>"Actually, mrogre, studies have shown that kids who work part-time do better in class & with grades than kids who don't. They have to learn time management skills, and how to focus. They tend not to procrastinate as much as someone who has lots of time."</p>
<p>Which studies? It seems reasonable idea that we would improve our time management being employed, but I don't like the "studies have shown" as it doesn't tell me much. I think there are a lot of people in college working full time or very near, but it seems that once your in Yale, you're in Yale, who reallllly cares if they get a 4.0 or a 3.5, whatever??</p>
<p>But... I did say I dunno!</p>