Should I place my low GPA on my Resume

Hey guys, I need a quick insight on what I should do about my GPA. I graduated May 2010 from a non-target with a B.S in Finance and Business with a cumulative GPA of 2.85 and major 2.94. I was wondering whether I should put my GPA on my resume? I don’t want recruiters thinking it’s lower than what it already is by not placing it on my resume or does it even matter at this point?

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If it's that low, then just don't put it. Better to explain away a low GPA on an interview than not get an interview in the first place. I know this because I did this.

There's a LOT of reasons why someone's GPA may be low, and as time goes by it matters less, but for the first job and grad school, you have to work the system to your advantage.

Get busy living
 

ABSOLUTELY do not put it on your resume. Unfortunately, you will probably be asked what was your GPA more than your own name going forward. So if I were you, sounds like you need to start working on another degree...

"Cut the burger into thirds, place it on the fries, roll one up homey..." - Epic Meal Time
 

yea dont put it. make sure you come up with a good convincing story as to why it is so low

"Look, you're my best friend, so don't take this the wrong way. In twenty years, if you're still livin' here, comin' over to my house to watch the Patriots games, still workin' construction, I'll fuckin' kill you. That's not a threat, that's a fact.
 
Best Response
Will Hunting:
yea dont put it. make sure you come up with a good convincing story as to why it is so low

In fact: turn it into an asset. I graduated high school at the top of my class, but then a series of family tragedies made the luxury of sitting around cranking out A's impossible anymore. My undergrad GPA SUCKED, but when I interviewed I told my story (worked 2 jobs, supported family, started a business, took time off to travel and learn a trade) I came across as much more appealing. Your GPA is low, but not so low that you're out of the game......outside of the most competetive BB FO positions, they only care that you graduated, especially for ops jobs. However, if/when you go to grad school, you're going to have to CRUSH the GMAT and really polish your story. Also, you have to PERFORM every day - your experience is going to have to outshine your grades

Good luck, and for what it's worth, there's plenty of people out there doing pretty well who weren't model students in college, but you have to recover, compensate, and dominate, otherwise you're just mediocre (and I'm not getting that impression)

Get busy living
 

I appreciate the creativity but I wouldn't take this approach. With formalized campus recruiting your resume will be analyzed by any where between 1-3 layers before your resume hits a decision makers desk. I don't think you should run the risk that everyone thinks your quote is "clever".

I was in a similar situation to you. Rather than draw attention to a deficiency, let the rest of your resume shine. In my opinion, two internships in Asset Management is more important than anything you did in school. On your resume make "Career Experience" the first heading and "education and honors" the last heading. I had a lot of success taking this approach.

 

It would make you look silly if you put that quote on your resume.

"I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
 

As a survivor of the low GPA woes, I 100% advise against adding the quote. Go with the strategies above and make sure to highlight experience value. When someone asks about your GPA, don't stutter, don't hesitate, don't apologize. Answer it honestly and confidently, then move onto what you focused on instead of school.

"We're not lawyers, we're investment bankers. We call you for the paperwork. We didn't go to Harvard, we went to Wharton, and we saw you coming a mile away."
 

Appreciate the advice everyone, especially Corntrader. That approach could work really well for me. Kind of suggested the quote as a creative joke. GPA is 2.8 overall and 3.1 major gpa. Thanks for the all the comments.

 

You got it all wrong son:

1) List 4.0/4.0 GPA 2) Add following quotes below: - "A thing worth having, is worth cheating for" - W.C. Fields - "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying" - Mark Grace - "The line between an economist and a criminal is incredibly thin" - Freakonomics

 
animalz:

You got it all wrong son:

1) List 4.0/4.0 GPA
2) Add following quotes below:
- "A thing worth having, is worth cheating for" - W.C. Fields
- "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying" - Mark Grace
- "The line between an economist and a criminal is incredibly thin" - Freakonomics

lol, awesome.

 
animalz:

You got it all wrong son:

1) List 4.0/4.0 GPA
2) Add following quotes below:
- "A thing worth having, is worth cheating for" - W.C. Fields
- "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying" - Mark Grace
- "The line between an economist and a criminal is incredibly thin" - Freakonomics

I am pretty sure that this could actually work if one has nothing to lose.

 
animalz:

You got it all wrong son:

1) List 4.0/4.0 GPA
2) Add following quotes below:
- "A thing worth having, is worth cheating for" - W.C. Fields
- "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying" - Mark Grace
- "The line between an economist and a criminal is incredibly thin" - Freakonomics

^+1 SB

But you forgot:

"I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I'm out of control, and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle my low GPA, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

 
computerized:
Canadian firms place a lot of emphasis on GPA (unfortunately) from my experience so yea I'd prob look towards a Masters program
it might seem like a noob question, but don't admission offices stress a lot on UG gpa? I'm not too familiar with master admission as I have never considered to enrol into one before. Thank you.
 

I don't think you should listed it on your resume. Just show companies your knowledge. To some people gpa doesn't matter, its all about what you learn. In this business world of course GPA matters. Yes Masters program do want your GPA. Just do well for the rest of your UG career, that way it shows you matured. Take the GMAT and get a high score and also get job experience.

G
 

Dont list your GPA. You might not get the job that you want out of undergrad, but you can achieve it eventually. I believe the rule of thumb is that after 2 years of work experience, most employers stop caring about your GPA and the focus shifts to your experience.

Array
 
TeddyTheBear:
Dont list your GPA. You might not get the job that you want out of undergrad, but you can achieve it eventually. I believe the rule of thumb is that after 2 years of work experience, most employers stop caring about your GPA and the focus shifts to your experience.
Not even the major GPA?
 

I've been following some of your posts, particularly your ER report which was extremely well written and presented, yet I'm quite surprised about your GPA. You're clearly very knowledgeable and driven, two factors that take much more precedence over GPA. I would say keep doing what you're doing, reach out to people at boutiques and share your research. If you do this long enough, you will definitely land something. While Canadian banks do place a lot of emphasis on GPA, they are also more welcoming to people from other backgrounds after a few years of work exp. Rather than the MFin, I would suggest that you work for 3-4 years, kill the GMAT and apply to Rotman, Ivey and Schulich's MBA program. From there you're all set for ER.

 
Macro <span class=keyword_link><a href=/resources/skills/trading-investing/arbitrage target=_blank>Arbitrage</a></span>:
I've been following some of your posts, particularly your ER report which was extremely well written and presented, yet I'm quite surprised about your GPA. You're clearly very knowledgeable and driven, two factors that take much more precedence over GPA. I would say keep doing what you're doing, reach out to people at boutiques and share your research. If you do this long enough, you will definitely land something. While Canadian banks do place a lot of emphasis on GPA, they are also more welcoming to people from other backgrounds after a few years of work exp. Rather than the MFin, I would suggest that you work for 3-4 years, kill the GMAT and apply to Rotman, Ivey and Schulich's MBA program. From there you're all set for ER.
First, thank you for you appreciations to my work. lol I thought I did a really bad job because nobody was responding to the thread. Second, I would be the first one to admit that I was dicking around, and I overly-devoted my time in my EC (editor for a school newspaper, and event executive for a student association). Well this is part of it. Another reason was due to my other major, which is psychology. I mean I was doing very well in most of my economic courses (except legal economics and corp. fin., hate them), but for my psy courses, I just couldn't do well in most of them except neuro/bio-psy. Not that I was lacking the interest in the topics, but the way that social psychology courses tested our understanding rendered me difficulties in arriving definite answers in exams. So at this point you might challenge me: why didn't you choose something else? I was forced to complete the major because by the time I switched out from forensic psychology in year 2, I was also half-way through the psychology program, therefore not finishing it would be a waste (given I was an international student from HK, time therefore equals to my parent's money).
 

Fck this... I'm going to prepare a huge Binder, with copies of my resume and work sample inside, and knock on boutiques' doors, asking to talk to someone in charge of hiring. I'm desperate for an internship or real job.

 

Yes it's a red flag. You'll probably be ok listing it as a 3.4/4.0.

People would assume it's lower than what you have if you leave it off.

"I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
 

You'll get a second look from HR no doubt, but the BB rotational program internship is not all that special. It would raise red flags as to why you have two BB internships and no GPA listed.

Just stick with your current BB firm.

 

In case you are wondering how I degenerated from a 3.9 to a 3.1. Its sad but it actually happened. Had a 3.9 fall of freshman year and a couple of Cs and one D spring semester and last fall messed me up really bad.

 

My advice if you really want banking: You have two tough majors with tough curves (C+/B-?). Also, having two semesters in a row of poor grades suggests that it might just be too difficult. Drop physics or math (whichever gives you a harder time) and double in a BS easy major or a challenging but reasonble major like economics (B- to B+ curve). Get a high major gpa and then you have something to show, along with a rising overall gpa.

Banks do not care that your major is difficult (unless MIT) and has a tough curve. There will always be people who apply in these majors with top grades.

You can always compensate bad grades with other aspects, but it isn't as easy as some people might think.

 

i dont htink GPA matter much after your first job if youre staying in banking, its more about experience, deals you close, your skillset etc. However, if you interview for assocaite positions in top PE and hedge fund jobs, your GPA matters again just like it did for banking the first time around.

 
madmoney15:
History is harder than you think buddy. Anyone can crunch numbers in a formula but to analytically write 8 page papers for midterm, essay, and final in an 8 week time frame isn't so easy.
You're kidding. Sack up, kiddo.
I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

With your low GPA, I would suggest two things:

1) spend more time networking and getting rapports from people who actually have the power in the decision making process. avoid HR at all cost. you are not going to get through HR with lower than 3.3GPA. you will be just wasting your time doing so. 2) have you done any other extra circular activities, i.e. leadership positions = president of investment club, part time internship while going to school, sample research reports (for ER gig) that you can demonstrate to the future employers

I will leave the GPA off from the resume. Try to pull it up to at least above 3.0 before you are done with school. Your best bet is polishing on your interviewing skills, networking with decision makers (ask for informational, do coffee, attend industry conferences) and putting together work samples (research reports), that would potentially tips the favor to your end. And avoid applying for BB, and try for smaller boutiques and middle market firms. BB have too many qualified candidates and more bureaucratic red taps, which would put you at a great disadvantage.

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."
 
sxh6321:
With your low GPA, I would suggest two things:

1) spend more time networking and getting rapports from people who actually have the power in the decision making process. avoid HR at all cost. you are not going to get through HR with lower than 3.3GPA. you will be just wasting your time doing so. 2) have you done any other extra circular activities, i.e. leadership positions = president of investment club, part time internship while going to school, sample research reports (for ER gig) that you can demonstrate to the future employers

I will leave the GPA off from the resume. Try to pull it up to at least above 3.0 before you are done with school. Your best bet is polishing on your interviewing skills, networking with decision makers (ask for informational, do coffee, attend industry conferences) and putting together work samples (research reports), that would potentially tips the favor to your end. And avoid applying for BB, and try for smaller boutiques and middle market firms. BB have too many qualified candidates and more bureaucratic red taps, which would put you at a great disadvantage.

I applied to like 20 BB but none of them wanted to give me a shot. I have been talking to a senior associate for a couple of weeks and he's been helping me out a lot. I understand that I have a far away to go to become successful but I'm determined do what it takes. I have been a member of the investment society and volunteer alot.I'm also taking the CFA level 1 in June. All I need is a shot to prove myself.

I didn't even think to write a sample research report, I need to do that. Thank you for all the helpful advice though.

 

Don't put any GPA on there and hope no one asks.

If you put "Business Course GPA 3.4" or something similar, I can't imagine someone seeing your major as History and not asking what your overall GPA is. And, if you tell them it's a 2.9, that means you did so poorly outside of business, that your 3.4 could only get you up to a 2.9.

You can't explain a bad GPA away as "history is a tough subject". Sorry. There's bound to be plenty of students at your school with your major with >3.5 GPAs. Hopefully you have a good reason (i.e. launched my own business).

 

Is you GPA just shit cause of first year? or spread out? I've seen someone put 1.9 as Freshman GPA (in a hard science) but had 3.7 GPA since freshman year after transferring to Econ and got some interviews. Don't know if he was just lucky or that works...

"If you survive to my age and you rack up a CV like mine, you can look at HR and say, "Fuck you. I don't try out."- Eddie
 
turtle:
Is you GPA just shit cause of first year? or spread out? I've seen someone put 1.9 as Freshman GPA (in a hard science) but had 3.7 GPA since freshman year after transferring to Econ and got some interviews. Don't know if he was just lucky or that works...

Yeah it's spread out from junior and my senior year, I did have a 3.1 before then. I figured it's not a big deal to just take a couple more of classes to just push it over a 3.0. I do have a reason why it took a hit but I don't want to use it as an excuse of why my gpa took a hit.

 

"Its spread out over junior and senior year, before that I had a 3.1" lol you say that as though a 3.1 should be respected. Well then again, maybe it is at your prestigious semi-target that has harder history courses than finance courses.

You should take another year, change your major to secondary ed, and become a high school history/gym teacher

 
Monkeyman2:
"Its spread out over junior and senior year, before that I had a 3.1" lol you say that as though a 3.1 should be respected. Well then again, maybe it is at your prestigious semi-target that has harder history courses than finance courses.

You should take another year, change your major to secondary ed, and become a high school history/gym teacher

Lol thank you for the insightful comment. I really appreciate it too because I'm shocked that a nobody had the nuts to speak up. I applaude you.

 

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