will a 4.0 actually help me?

I can't speak for others, but my house is attempting to higher prioritize grades and involvement this year. A 4.0 would get recognized, but it would only take you somewhere if you had other achievements as well. Hope this helps clear things up!

Even non academic Zta has 70 on Presidents List. You have a good gpa and it will help but it will not make much of a difference.

It helps and but honestly a high gpa doesn’t take you far on its own (while a low gpa will hurt you regardless of other things you have going for you 99% of the time)
A 4.0 doesn’t get you a full schedule all week and your pick of any house on the row, it just means you aren’t limiting your options right off the bat and might get houses to pay a little more attention (which is important if you don’t know people going in)

It only means you make it past the grade cut
If you are adorable well dressed with great conversations than your gpa really makes you the total package. It wont hurt that’s for sure but it’s just part of the package