How smart is a 3.8 GPA?

Asked by: Ms. Linnie Muller MD  |  Last update: October 15, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (12 votes)

A 3.8 GPA is a Grade Point Average of 3.8 on a 4.0 scale. It indicates that you've earned a predominantly A average in your courses. A 3.8 GPA is considered to be a very good GPA and is often an indicator of strong academic performance.

How rare is 3.8 GPA?

To elaborate, the national average for GPA is around a 3.0, so a 3.8 puts you above average nationally. Keep in mind the 3.0 national average represents all students, not just students applying to college, so the average GPA of students admitted to colleges is higher than the national average.

Can I get into Harvard with a 3.8 GPA?

Whether a 3.8 GPA can get you into Harvard or not depends on the rest of your application. Although Harvard is an incredibly competitive school, high test scores and a well-rounded profile can help increase your chances of acceptance. However, you should try to raise your GPA even more if you plan to apply to Harvard.

What GPA is considered really smart?

Whether an average GPA is good or not depends on your personal and academic objectives and on the university and study programme you choose. Usually, a GPA of 3.0 - 3.5 is considered good enough at many high schools, colleges, and universities. Top academic institutions usually require GPAs higher than 3.5.

Is 3.8 GPA good for ivy?

A 3.8 is definitely not low for the ivy league. A 3.7 is low. A 3.6 is very low. A 3.8 is pretty close to normal for Ivy acceptances.

Is a 3.8 GPA too low for Ivy League?

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Is a 3.8 GPA impressive?

While admissions officers consider multiple factors, including test scores, extracurricular activities, and course rigor, a 3.8 GPA places you in a highly favorable position when applying to colleges.

Is a 4.7 GPA good for Harvard?

GPA requirements for Harvard

At Harvard, the standard GPA is 4.18. (While some schools publish an unweighted GPA, most utilize a weighted GPA out of 4.0.) Harvard needs you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.18.

Does GPA predict IQ?

Those with higher GPA's should have slightly higher IQ's on average, so we would expect that there should be a greater percentage of high IQ people among those with GPA's that are above average.

What is an impressive GPA?

Typically, students with GPAs ranging from 3.5-3.7 will graduate cum laude (Latin for with distinction, with praise, or with honor ). Those with 3.7-3.9 GPAs graduate magna cum laude ( with great praise ), and those with a GPA of 3.9 or higher will be awarded summa cum laude ( with highest praise ).

What GPA is straight A's?

Unweighted GPA Scale

This is the scale most widely used by American high schools and colleges. And, until recently, it was the only scale. If your school uses this one, the perfect GPA is a 4.0, which means that you have straightAs. If you have a 3.0, you have straight Bs, and so on and so forth.

What's the lowest GPA Yale accepted?

We do not set a minimum GPA, nor do we attempt to re-weight GPA's to any standard other than what a school provides.

Can I get into UCLA with a 3.8 GPA?

you're 3.8 GPA would be below the 25th percentile for admitted students as an unweighted GPA and far below the 25th percentile as a weighted GPA. As of the most recent data availability, UCLA's middle 50% unweighted GPA for admitted students is 3.95-4.00, with a median unweighted GPA of 4.00.

Can I go to Yale with a 3.8 GPA?

Yale University does not have a strict minimum GPA requirement for undergraduate admissions. However, admitted students typically have very high GPAs, ranging from 3.8 to 4.0, with an average GPA of 3.9.

Am I smart if I have a 3.8 GPA?

A 3.8 GPA is a very strong GPA. Admissions committees consider your GPA and your full application when making their decisions. They look at your test scores, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and essays. A 3.8 GPA may make you a competitive candidate.

Is 3.8 a good GPA for med school?

Admissions experts advise aspiring medical school students to aim for a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Is a 3.8 weighted GPA bad?

In response to your concerns, a 3.8 weighted GPA is decent and demonstrates a level of academic rigor to colleges, especially if it's accompanied by a rigorous course load.

Is 1.7 GPA bad?

On a percentage scale, this would roughly translate to scores in the range of 60% to less than 70%. It's essential to note that a 1.7 GPA is generally considered a relatively low GPA and could potentially limit a student's college and scholarship opportunities.

Do jobs look at college GPA?

GPA only really matters for entry-level roles

For the most part, your job history will consist of internships, summer jobs, or be non-existent when you graduate from college, so some employers will use your GPA as a metric to assess your candidacy for entry-level roles.

What is the top 5% GPA?

Summa cum laude: “With highest honor,” typically 3.9–4.0 GPA or top 1-5% of class.

What was Einstein's IQ?

Best known for developing the theory of relativity, he is amongst the top most geniuses the world has recognized. Einstein never took an IQ score test. However, based on his historical records, academics have estimated his score to be around 160.

Is 115 IQ good?

85 to 114: Average intelligence. 115 to 129: Above average or bright. 130 to 144: Moderately gifted. 145 to 159: Highly gifted.

Do grades affect IQ?

There is broad agreement that there is a moderate to strong correlation between the two. Jencks et al.'s (1979, p. 102)detailed account of eight samples from six longitudinal studies reported correlations ranging from 0.40 to 0.63 between cognitive test scores and amount of education obtained.

Is a 3.8 GPA bad for Ivy League?

What Is a Good GPA for the Ivy League? To get into most Ivy League schools, you'll need an average GPA between 3.9 and 4.0. However, if you're aiming for a top Ivy League university such as Stanford, MIT, or others, a 4.0 GPA — or close to it — is expected.

Can I get into Yale with a 3.7 GPA?

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1560 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher.

What is the hardest college to get into?

Harvard University

The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni.