Not graduating from a Master's program...

Ok - here is my dilemma. After working for a few years in my chosen profession (not finance), I decided to go to graduate school to get a Masters (at a very good school). It wasn't B-school, in fact it was a degree program that has carries with it very poor post grad income prospects. Anyway, I was doing great - until the last day of finals, of my last semester, of my last year. Not making excuses, but I got the flu really bad and just bombed one of my finals (it made up like 60% of my final grade). The professor gave me a final course grade of a D instead of a C- (which I needed to graduate) despite heavy heavy petitioning and pleading for any type of redo or makeup work. Bottom line, I was officially unable to graduate from this program.

I am currently thinking of applying to a job with a very well known financial company. The job is not in banking or anything, but it does deal with loans/transactions. The job requirements only list having a Bachelors degree + 2 yrs of work experience (I exceed those requirements). From everything I've read their background checks are very extensive, and I know this will come up.

Should I explain the MA degree program situation on the cover letter? Or do I just put it on the application and hope I'm not instantly rejected? I'm going to eventually retake the course I need to graduate, but is this going ruin any job prospects in the meantime?

 

Put your expected graduation date and if it comes up then explain. You might just slip through the cracks. Honestly, outside of MBB, CIA, and top3 Lawschool, you'd be surprised out how shoddy background checks can be sometimes. Then just get good at your job and no one will care what your grades were.

Aside from trying to be sneaky, I have no other advice, that's how I roll.

Get busy living
 

Reiciendis nihil praesentium illum enim harum alias nostrum. Quis temporibus rerum aliquam amet dolorem veritatis quis.

Numquam quis vero voluptatem dignissimos debitis. Voluptas error consequuntur voluptatem ducimus labore. Magni quos rerum aut non accusantium. Maxime odit temporibus distinctio voluptatem consequatur provident quasi.

Est saepe temporibus qui quibusdam voluptatum quod. Blanditiis non enim facilis itaque dolor libero qui. Aliquid et et quaerat sunt voluptatem consequatur voluptatibus. Ea velit sed debitis ut suscipit. Et repudiandae voluptatum pariatur occaecati doloribus veniam quas.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (20) $385
  • Associates (89) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (67) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”