Hey, Pre-Meds, A 4.0 Is NOT Something To Pull Your Hair Out Over
Start writing a post
Student Life

Hey, Pre-Meds, A 4.0 Is NOT Something To Pull Your Hair Out Over

If you're a perfectionist or a neurotic pre-med student like I am, you'll benefit from reading this.

843
Grades

Let's be real, being a pre-med is difficult — medical schools will only admit the best and brightest of us. We slog through four years of college, balancing 1,000 hours of volunteer work with doctor shadowing, scrambling for labs that have cutting-edge research in hopes of getting published in "Nature," and most importantly, keeping our grades in tip-top shape by carefully reading the course syllabi, hunting for the grade distribution graphs, and of course, attempting to beat the curve to get that A at the end of the long tunnel.

Many pre-med students don't get 4.0s, like me, and many pre-med students, like me, tend to crib about even a single A-, as it immediately kills any chance of us ever getting a 4.0 for the rest of our undergraduate career. But we all need a reality check, a grade is just a number. Given the rampant and sometimes outrageous rise in grade inflation over the past few decades, as well as the increasing toughness of medical school admissions, it is not surprising to hear many students complain of a 3.7 GPA. Considering that you need a 3.7-3.8 just to be in the middle 50% of matriculates, it is necessary to beat the curve by all means. However, this does NOT mean that it is absolutely necessary to get a 4.0 just to have a chance.

Most of us are not perfect and we often make mistakes. We might be so used to getting straight A's in high school, but college is one of the first times when we all make mistakes, and that's okay! College is a place where you can explore interests and passions while you're still young. And with exploring interests comes mistakes. It's better to make mistakes now, instead of later in life. Medical school admissions officers are human, too, and most of them weren't perfect when they were in your shoes. So as long as your GPA is still high enough, you don't need to create stress by thinking of ways to get that 4.0.

Of course, a 4.0 is still something you should aim for, but approach it with a growth mindset, such that you can allow yourself to sometimes make mistakes. Life is always full of setbacks, but approaching them with the right attitude will teach you more than crawling back into your shell and beating yourself up for an A-.

It's much, much easier to maintain a 3.7-3.9 than it is to maintain a 4.0, considering that a 4.0 requires that you have literally all A's on your transcript, which is just nuts. A single A- and you're done. Thinking about that will honestly stress anyone out, myself included. But when I got my first A-, I took it and said to myself, "You know what? There really isn't too much of a difference between a 3.9 and a 4.0. Just get back up and keep going, because setbacks always have something to teach us." I recommend you adopt that attitude if you are stressing about keeping your 4.0. Let's be real, a 4.0 really isn't worth the extra stress.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58958
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

38061
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959567
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

195937
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments