Would taking 3 courses/semester instead of the standard 4 my junior and senior years of undergraduate matter to banks/PE firms? The courses would be upper level economics and physics classes, as I'm doing an econ major and physics minor from a top-10 LAC. My logic is that the lighter courseload would help my GPA and allow more time for networking.
Thanks in advance.
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Lol, I took at least 8 courses a semester at a target... but no, it doesn't matter.
No, it won't matter. They wouldn't even know. Also, it doesn't matter what classes you take, it's better to maximize GPA with easier ones. Some people argue that it's better to take difficult finance classes so you learn more and can answer technicals easier but that's BS.
Will a low average courseload (unit-wise) raise red flags? (Originally Posted: 10/30/2011)
the average amount of units per semester is 16
For me, I took: First sem- 12 Second sem-18 (2 was credit/no credit) Current sem- 13 (withdrawing from a class)
Will this put off recruiters?
You're screwed
your fine
The answer is situation specific. If you worked 40 hours a week, and have a 3.75GPA with a 12 credit courseload, then its impressive. If you played sports for 25 hours a week, President of club, and have a 3.75 GPA, then its impressive
Other than the situations mentioned above - your f*****
Honestly, I don't think anyone cares if you're otherwise competitive.
Generally, nobody looks at your transcript until it is time to do background checks. They'll look at your resume, and that is about it. As long as you are graduating on schedule, I doubt it will come up.
Looks like I'm getting very mixed opinions here :S
I'm not working at all in this period, but I hold a leadership position, was on the rugby club for a while and some other clubs. I always thought that recruiters don't even look at what classes you took...?
Nobody will look at units - gpa is all that matters. I don't know about the people above, but I work at an IB so I can give you some insight to how the process works. An analyst gets a stack of resumes and goes through them quickly (as he/ she will likely have a lot of other shit to do) and make the first cut based solely on gpa / school unless someone brought attenetion to a specific candididate. After this cut, they look at relevant expereince and then some candidates are invited for first round interviews. At this point it's on you, I have never heard about units in a semester getting brought up in an interview unless. After offers are give, a transcript is reviewed to verify gpa, etc. Your fine - graduate on time and get good grades
"Fluffing" your course load up a bit (Originally Posted: 01/12/2011)
So I always see threads about people worried about their gpas, but I've searched and can't find a thread that hits upon this topic.
I've talked with analysts at many BBs, and all of them have told me that easy classes and fluffing up your GPA is the way to go.
I'll be honest, intellectual curiosity has tempted me to take some tough classes, but my better judgement says otherwise.
My GPA is not awful, but I will admit it is a bit below the 3.5 cut off that I would love to be in.
So my question to you all is, and there is no right answer, in your opinion, which is more important? intellectual curiosity or keeping the GPA as high as possible?
when it comes to getting interviews, they could care less whether you took Stochastic calculus versus Spanish 101, so I definitely lean towards fluffing at this point.
But what's your opinion? In banking you will learn all you need on the job anyways.
thanks.
those analysts are right, take whatever courses you have to to max out your cumulative GPA
With the caveat that a 3.45 as a Physics major is probably going to look the same as a 3.65 as an Econ major. If it's something you can list on your resume (like Math Minor or Math Major), that gives you an excuse for a lower GPA.
I would take stoch. calculus over the summer at a community college or through an online course that doesn't necessarily give you college credit. Not so you can put it on your transcript or resume but so that it can better prepare you for your career. And it might come up in an interview.
Just remember if they start asking you how much you know about math or stoch. calculus in an interview, DOWNPLAY DOWNPLAY DOWNPLAY. DiffyQ is really as far as you need to go to be qualified for 99% of the positions they're hiring undergrads for. Heck, Stats I, Calc II, and Linear Algebra qualifies you for 90% of the positions out there. And that's all you need to get into grad school for a Financial Engineering degree.
I agree with the analyst to some extent. I'm right below the 3.5 average and I'm graduating in May. Next semester I am definitely taking some easier classes to try and meet that benchmark.
get the GPA high as possible... Very few recruiters will give your resume an honest look over the first time they run through the resume book. Not to discourage you or anything but odds are they will scan for "acceptable" GPAs. However,you can get around that with some serious networking. Connect with someone on the inside and work to make sure your resume lands in the "acceptable" pile. Only after they weed out many of the resumes will recruiters actually give the substance of your resume an honest look.
Also if you have a 3.447 (or something similar) consider putting it up as a 3.5 - there is a slight risk involved with this. But try to beat the system don't let it beat you....
If you really want to take a class that is notoriously difficult consider the pass fail option.
Fluffing can be taken in a completely different context, user beware.
Thanks for the responses!
I've been trying to look at it like this: I would rather be 3 years out of ugrad and regret not taking stochastic calc than be 3 years out and wish i had done everything possible to get the highest possible GPA. Classes can be taken later, but GPA's can't be improved after the fact I suppose.
I agree, fluff it up a bit. You get only one shot at an undergrad degree.
Reduced Courseload (Originally Posted: 07/31/2007)
Hi,
This is kinda off topic from Business Graduate School. But this is the closest forum thats relevent to my question. Can somebody please tell me if employers frown upon taking a reduced course load.
Heres my situation. I am doing my undergraduate as a double major in Finance and Accounting. I have already completed most of my Finance major requirements but only recently have decided to use the rest of my free courses to do a double major in accounting. This therefore leaves me with no more "easy" optional courses to take and instead, I have either all Higher level accoutning courses or Finance courses to take (9 to be exact). So heres my question, to maintain my current GPA or maybe even boost it, should i take a reduced courseload? ie. 3 in fall, 3 in winter and 3 in spring/summer or next fall. Or should i just take a full courseload of 4 in fall then 5.
I guess my fears are since I only have tough courses left, and i'm not the smartest person, i'm scared my GPA will drop if i take a full course load. But on the other hand, if i reduce my courseload, i am almost gauranteed A's in every course. Only downside here, which leads to my main question is;
Do employers frown upon taking a reduced course load? Even if if the person graduates with honors by doing so?
Thanks!
I don't think you need to disclose on your resume the method in which you took your courses. And even if an employer requires a transcript, I don't think it would matter.
With the exception of cheating, it doesn't matter how you obtain high grades, as long as you make it happen. If that courseload is easier for you, then do it that way.
Take the easier courseload. End of subject.
Why do you want do accounting?
If you want to work in FINANCE, why would you not want to study accounting at some point?
There's a difference between taking basic accounting courses and majoring in it.
there is? what would that be then?
Accounting majors take more courses , than the basic ones, to fulfill the requirements for their accounting designation of choice.
Yes I understand that. But like i said, I have already fulfilled my Finance major requirements. I dont want to do a total of 9 courses of just options. I think Accounting is just another logical major and makes me more marketable? (correct me if i am wrong) PLUS i also want to get a CA designation as I understand it helps alot..especially in equity research. While i'm not sure that ER is what i want to do, it can't hurt even if i get into M&A. One more plus is that WHEN i get my MBA, who knows, i might not even want to do IBanking no more, with the CA designation + MBA i think i'll be in a better position to take consulting jobs, and even industry jobs like the Finance roles in something like google?
Just my current thoughts. Please let me know your opinions or my thinking is totally wack!
Thanks.
Seems like you're paper chaser that doesn't know what you really want to do. Why don't you minor in marketing and HR while you're at it?
Paper Chaser---stupid
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