zhenzhen
New member
Posts: 22
|
 |
« on: January 16, 2009, 11:39:52 PM » |
|
Is it true that a 4.0 GPA will actually be bad for grad school? I have that right now for my major and really want to take a class but I know I won't get a 4.0 in the course. I really enjoy the topics though. Should I stay or ditch the class?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
tuxedo_cat
|
|
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2009, 11:48:05 PM » |
|
What?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The only protection from zombies is a good friend who runs slightly more slowly than you do.
|
|
|
|
systeme_d_
|
|
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2009, 11:49:44 PM » |
|
My advice to the OP is to get out of the library and go get drunk.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
|
|
|
polly_mer
|
|
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2009, 12:00:53 AM » |
|
Take the class.
Whenever what you want conflicts with some nebulous "They say", choose what you want to do.
A 4.0 will not hurt you except as an opportunity cost. If all you do as an undergraduate is exactly what's required to maintain your perfect 4.0, that's going to look very bad on your graduate school application. If you take an interesting minor or series of classes while being involved with professional or student government clubs, but only make a 3.8, most graduate programs will admit you over someone with a perfect 4.0 and nothing to show in the way of the other facets of intellectual life.
If all you do during your college years is study to get good grades, you will have wasted several years of your life and missed the purpose of a proper college education.
Take the class and make good use of your college experience.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
If you haven't got either the anatomical or metaphorical balls to post your own question on a pseudonymous internet forum, then academia is the wrong job for you.
|
|
|
tinyzombie
She of the Ass-Kicking Socks, and a
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,438
elevate from this point on - chuck d
|
|
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2009, 02:57:33 PM » |
|
I second that. My advice to the OP is to get out of the library and go get drunk.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Correct, as usual, TZ. That's because you are not Dude. TZ, however, is Dude. TZ is my favorite. I wish YOU began with A. |
|
|
|
sciencephd
|
|
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2009, 02:59:23 PM » |
|
Of course a 4.0 is bad. What were you thinking ?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
|
|
|
|
sugaree
|
|
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2009, 04:57:57 PM » |
|
If your question is, is a 4.0 GPA "bad" for grad school (and I'm not sure where you got that idea?) and you want to take a class that interests you but you are pretty sure that you won't get an A in it, and thus "wreck" your current perfect GPA, what's the problem? Take the course, learn and enjoy, and lower that pesky 4.0 by a 1/10 of a point or so. Now, if you mean do grad schools only accept applicants who have a perfect GPA? Then no. Admissions committees use a number of criteria to evaluate applicants, of which GPA (and certainly not a perfect 4.0) is only one factor. And let me add my vote to the advice to: get out of the library and go get drunk.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
where's the bourbon?
|
|
|
zhenzhen
New member
Posts: 22
|
|
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2009, 01:55:38 AM » |
|
I've heard from friends who are grad students that if you have a 4.0 GPA and didn't do anything else (no extracurricular activities) in order to get it, then you're at a disadvantage. I know this is all hearsay but graduate schools look for well-rounded people, right?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
sciencephd
|
|
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2009, 01:59:10 AM » |
|
I've heard from friends who are grad students that if you have a 4.0 GPA and didn't do anything else (no extracurricular activities) in order to get it, then you're at a disadvantage. I know this is all hearsay but graduate schools look for well-rounded people, right?
In the sciences, we want to see lab or related experience. We don't really care about whether you have extracurricular activities that are not relevant. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
|
|
|
|
concordancia
|
|
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2009, 02:00:55 AM » |
|
I've heard from friends who are grad students that if you have a 4.0 GPA and didn't do anything else (no extracurricular activities) in order to get it, then you're at a disadvantage. I know this is all hearsay but graduate schools look for well-rounded people, right?
I have heard this about undergrad, but not grad school. Grad schools are not generally always looking for well rounded individuals. They are looking for workaholic potential cult converts (and no, I am not searching for the Chronicle piece on that subject from many moons ago) who show an extraordinary aptitude for the subject matter. The only additional activities they are looking for is time spent working in the lab/ field/ whatever the discipline equivalent of that is. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I like money. I like to buy stuff and experiences with money.
|
|
|
|
polly_mer
|
|
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2009, 02:03:56 AM » |
|
I've heard from friends who are grad students that if you have a 4.0 GPA and didn't do anything else (no extracurricular activities) in order to get it, then you're at a disadvantage. I know this is all hearsay but graduate schools look for well-rounded people, right?
Did you read my post on this thread where I explained that situation? Yes, if the only thing you can show a graduate school is a 4.0 GPA with no activites indicating any professional interest in the field, then you are at a disadvantage. However, your friends are wrong to suggest that graduate schools want well-rounded people. They want people who are lopsided in specific ways. If you have a 3.8 GPA, a relevant internship or other work experience, and were active in the appropriate student chapter of a professional society, then you are much better off than the simple 4.0 GPA person. On the other hand, many activities that are fun and common on college campuses do not help your case unless it''s something like "Yes, I can juggle multiple hugely time-consuming things. I played varsity Division I sports and maintained a 3.9 GPA", but even that won't help much. Being a member of a fraternity, being involved in intramural sports, and the like don't help at all because that's not the kind of thing that matters. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
If you haven't got either the anatomical or metaphorical balls to post your own question on a pseudonymous internet forum, then academia is the wrong job for you.
|
|
|
geonerd
Creator of the award for heroic avoidance of dangling prepositions AND a
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,577
Do not take the bait
|
|
« Reply #11 on: January 18, 2009, 10:23:28 AM » |
|
When I see a 4.0 I do wonder if the student will be emotionally able to deal with the first B they earn in graduate school, because I guarantee that first B is right around the corner.
Our graduate admissions office does the first screening of applications. If the candidate meets some minimum set of criteria based on GPA and GRE scores then the application is sent to the department. I personally want to see prior field and lab experience, and some introductory level research experience such as a senior thesis, independent study project, or summer internship.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"Is this the water?"
"Yes."
Traffic doesn't care what I think of it. |
|
|
lnfio
New member
Posts: 3
|
|
« Reply #12 on: January 18, 2009, 06:52:03 PM » |
|
You could always sit in on the course, but not for credit. What I suggest is that you approach the professor and inquire about publishing research. I've never known a career academic who has not had a paper rejected. If you can be perfect in this way, congratulations, but I suggest you just explore interdisciplinary research early. It is a big trend and a major advantage for a graduate with a Ph.D. these days. Just explore whatever you like.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
