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Well, I have been at UVA now for almost a month and so far college is great and definitely a great expereince. But when I was in high school I was pretty much a Straight A student (sometimes an occasional B) Now it seems like no matter how hard you study it is impossible to make a 4.0! I mean am I suppose to expect that?? Is it really impossible to get an A in a class? Please answer soon and thanks.

By Lifeisgood (Lifeisgood) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 08:42 pm: Edit

everyone who gets into good schools had straight As (exaggeration) in HS... not all of them can in college, that's life

By Bumblebee83 (Bumblebee83) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 09:10 pm: Edit

Yup, thats about right. Remember that a lot of college classes are on a curve, so don't freak out too bad. Just breathe. And also, it's your first semester at a new and much harder school with new people....and you might not really know how to studyyet. GIve it time...4.0 isn't an unattainable goal, but it;s a lot of work.

By Maryville (Maryville) on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 09:49 pm: Edit

Yeah, I didn't get the A I wanted on my Chem 141 quiz today. I probably got a B/B-/C+. Oh well, as long as I get a 3.5-3.7 that would be nice.

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 03:02 am: Edit

Find a tutor. Seriously. You're obviously smart and probably not used to needing help, but tutors are awesome and can save your grade. I know, I am a tutor ;)

By Megofou (Megofou) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 08:34 am: Edit

My friends have all pronounced my quest for a 4.0 absolutely ridiculous. But...so far, so good. I *didn't* have all A's in high school. I'd get B's occasionally. Why? Because the classes were boring and the homework was lost to more interesting things...like picking lint off a stranger's shirt. College classes are different. I actually feel the need to do the reading and assignments. Yay for being challenged at last.

By Jl87d (Jl87d) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 08:37 am: Edit

Here, Here Megofou, I strongly agree.

By Joev (Joev) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 05:23 pm: Edit

Noone in the whole school of my brothers graduating class at Cleveland State had a 4.0 and that was over 600 students. So kiss your 4.0 goodbye, there will always be some professor you fun across who never gives out A's.

By Hoo_29 (Hoo_29) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 11:17 pm: Edit

I disagree. Maybe a 4.0 is unattainable, but a 3.8-3.9 can be done with a lot of work. And, unfortunately, my sis had a prof. that gave no A's ever. She just didn't believe in giving higher than a B. So, stuff like that sets you back.

By Bluealien01 (Bluealien01) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 08:14 am: Edit

What do you mean "giving"? If a student earns an A through their test scores, homework, paper assignment, the outcome would logical be an A or somewhere around an A (like and A- maybe). If giving one a grade lower than one earned does happen, someone should be able to sue for that because it makes no sense.

By Alongfortheride (Alongfortheride) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 08:50 am: Edit

There is going to be a grade distribution in college, just like there was in HS. When you have a university full of students that were in the top 10% of their class or higher and were used to A's, something's got to give. Being in the top 25% or top 10% - heck, just the top half takes on a whole new meaning.

It has been my experience that the high schools in my area give out a whole lot more A's than my HS did way back when. My husband works with a couple whose daughter graduated from a high school in a neighboring district. To be in the top half of the class, you needed a GPA of a 94. That tells me grade inflation is rampant and the kids are in for a big adjustment. (H and I believe that A's are handed out to keep the parents happy.) It's a disservice to the kids. Thankfully my son's school was not quite that bad.

My point is that you will have to adjust to the new standards and redefine success in your academic career. As a parent, I just tell my kids to do their best, and I would say the same to you. If you're working to your potential and are progressing towards a degree, you're successful.

By Bluealien01 (Bluealien01) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 01:26 pm: Edit

And grade inflation is what??

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 03:32 pm: Edit

I really would caution you against thinking that you'll get the same grades you did in high school when you are at a top school. UVA is a great school, and you are probably competing against people who are more talented than the kids in your high school honours and AP classes.

Every time you go up a level in selectivity, it's that much harder to stay at the top. The A- student who takes an honours class in high school will be the one at the bottom, working very hard for Bs. Now, you've taken those people away - so all of the students you are with are the ones who aced those classes. If you come in the middle of that pack, you're still doing very well.

Grad/professional school is even more fun - you eliminate most of the kids who were in the middle at college. When the mandatory curve comes along, someone who always got As ends up with a C. It's tough, and can often make for a pretty lousy atmosphere. The sooner that you can accept a B as a solid, well-earned grade, the better you will be.

End of rant.

By Lionswim (Lionswim) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 05:31 pm: Edit

If you can say that all of your sub-A grades were hard earned and you learned all that you intended to in that class, what's the point?

Generally, I'd say you're much happier working hard and maintaining a social life with a 3.something than killing yourself for a 4.0 which won't matter 10 years from now.

I'm all for getting the best education you can, but don't forget how trivial things like GPAs will be when you're an adult.

By Megofou (Megofou) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 10:03 pm: Edit

I think Russian has a secret plot to kill my intended 4.0. Maybe after this quarter, I'll chill out and accept a 3.5 or whatever. I know that it won't matter 10 years from now...but it matters 10 years before 10 years from now. I want it.

By Bluealien01 (Bluealien01) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 07:16 am: Edit

Lionswim--tell that to someone who does not like socializing. :/

By Welshie (Welshie) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 09:15 am: Edit

I'm starting to agree more and more with Lionswim. College in general isn't geared toward getting good, high GPAs but instead, toward getting good knowledge in your respective field and getting experience. 10 years from now, you're going to look back on your college experience and I don't think a 4.0 is going to make you feel all warm and fuzzy as you stroll down memory lane. However, experience, friendships, or, as Thoreau put it, "sucking the very marrow of life" is what will make you warm and fuzzy as you take that walk to memory lane. My friends and fellow posters, as important as it is to get a good education academically, I believe the rest of the world could give a hoot where you went to school and what grades you made. The people you are, the people you become and the people you put yourself around is far more important. I think I'm starting to realize that for the first time. It's kind of hard for me. I was never the most social person but I always had academia there in my back pocket as a wild card-- something I could hold to my name. It was how I made a difference or stood out. I was always "that kid who could graduate before he turns 19," but now I realize that doesn't matter to anyone in the real world. They could careless if I graduate when I'm 19 or 23 or 25 or whatever. That 4.0 I've been drooling after in college doesn't mean crap. Most likely, the fact that chase it with such vigor adds to the difficulty in attaining it. College isn't just about learning material from books. It's about learning things books can't teach you and never can teach you. It's about learning, for yourself, who you are.

By Usunkmyb_Ship (Usunkmyb_Ship) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 06:59 am: Edit

Blah, I was the honor student in high school. Now I have 2.6 gpa.

By Muppetcoat (Muppetcoat) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:48 am: Edit

I had a 3.8 to get into *ivy uni*... now I have a 3.3... No one's died because of it.

By Wunderkind__Not (Wunderkind__Not) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 10:01 pm: Edit

i'm not being arrogant but i got 4.0 uw in HS and now have a 4.0 in ivy university (where As and A+s equal 4.0). despite what people think - and will inevitably think after reading this post - I actually spend little to zero time studying, doing homework, or worrying about my GPA and rank. i listen in class, i do my homework, i learn the material, i love the material, and i have an incredible social life as well as a personal life (outside of school). it's simple for me, and if i were to get a 3.0 or lower, it wouldn't phase me. my advice: take things as they come, and if you don't like them, change them by doing your best. if you truly give your best, you get what you get. why should you get something you didn't earn/deserve?

By Keo (Keo) on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 02:19 am: Edit

Depends a lot on the courses you take. There are courses where I am sure i could get an A in. I was reading an article one day about the gpa system here and they somehow were able to estimate the probability of getting straight A's to about 1/400+ or something resembling that. I don't know, maybe i'm just tired and making up stuff.