Obtained Vs. Predicted GPA on Resume
2 Questions: (1) What do you all think about putting predicted GPA on resume? The prediction would be what your GPA would be when you graduate, three semesters later after applying for SA positions. I'm assuming it's pretty legit, especially since Goldman Sachs, on their online app, give you the option, when inputting your GPA, of putting "Expected" or "Obtained." (2) Do banks (namely GS or MS) request transcripts after extending offers?
Should I Use a Predicted GPA on my Resume?
Generally, our users advise against using a predicted GPA as you likely have no idea what your GPA will end up being. That being said, if you are a first semester freshman applying to something it is okay to indicate what GPA you are tracking for on your resume.
Do NOT put a predicted GPA. DON'T DO IT. That's all you need to know. Not sure about GS/MS, but my BB asked for a transcript after both SA and FT offers, so yes I would imagine they do too.
Could be one of the fastest ways to not get a first round interview. Also, banks will ask you to sign a form granting them permission to request transcripts...not sure when they actually check.
- GS allows "predicted" GPA to give applicants some leeway, i.e. it's the end of the semester and you do not have grades 100% finalized yet. They're not saying, "If you're a sophomore in college, you can predict a 4.0 for your next five semesters and submit that GPA." C'mon, think about it.
- What is your GPA? Unless it's sub-3.0, leaving it off is a huge mistake. I've looked at a few resumes and have been told how to flip through resume books by my associates, and unless you've developed a cure for cancer and hitchhiked around the world for the past 3 years (and wrote a book about it), if you leave your GPA off you get tossed in the trash. And I work at a MM bank. Can't imagine someone at GS is going to look at a resume without a GPA... First thing they'll look at is school, second thing is GPA, and if it's not there that makes it an easy way to save 15 seconds.
- Predicted GPA to the hundredths? This is absolutely foolish. If you have a sub-par GPA up to this point, what the heck makes you think you can acceptably inflate your GPA for the predicted periods?
Read More About GPAs and Resumes on WSO
- Do Companies Ask For Your Transcript To Check Your GPA?
- Grade Non Disclosure
- Senior Year Grades - Important To Keep Grades Up?
Preparing for Investment Banking Interviews?
The WSO investment banking interview course is designed by countless professionals with real world experience, tailored to people aspiring to break into the industry. This guide will help you learn how to answer these questions and many, many more.
Oh, and I've been a long time lurker, but am looking forward to posting on the site now. Thanks!
Hahahaha, do NOT put a predicted GPA. DON'T DO IT. That's all you need to know. 2) Not sure about GS/MS, but my BB asked for a transcript after both SA and FT offers, so yes I would imagine they do too.
Agreed! Could be one of the fastest ways to not get a first round interview. Also, banks will ask you to sign a form granting them permission to request transcripts...not sure when they actually check.
The reason they have expected is because in the UK you are given an expected degree result.
So everyone who puts expected down is going to get dinged? I haven't even gotten my first semester grades back yet, and deadlines for apps occur before I get them....If I put expected 3.8 it could be legit after I get my grades back.
It could be legit? No, no, no. Just put your current GPA. Don't predict/extrapolate/forecast/guess anything outside of the year you expect to graduate.
Wait a few days to get your fall semester grades if you think they'll help you.
Agreed with above. You can only put down the GPA that you have obtained. End of story.
So what about just leaving it off altogether? Do you think I could get an interview at GS/MS, in IBD or S&T, doing that? A lot of my peers have 3.6-3.9 GPAs in the same majors as me.
Seems like however you put down GPA, there's always a BS way to spin it and make urself look better--Major GPA, Cum GPA, Expected GPA, Concentration GPA, Junior year GPA, etc etc. I know it's all BS, but I am just trying to make myself look better
people will read right through you.
GPA if I Study every day : 3.9 Actual GPA 2.4
Because we clearly need it in this thread:
http://longorshortcapital.com/adjusted-gpa-on-a-pro-forma-basis.htm
this kid's such a tool
I had a buddy as a joke who put: Actual GPA: 3.0 Expected GPA: 4.0
this was senior year spring semester
Agreed that you should never put expected results on your resume. The potential upside of an extra 0.1 does not even come close to the downside of being thrown out of the process. Also, everyone eventually runs a background check on you to confirm what you stated during the process. Dont assume you'll just sneak your wat in through the backdoor.
Also, if youre already in the 3.6 range, you dont have much to worry about in regards to your GPA.
Well, I've talked to some people, and I'm either going to leave out my GPA all together or put expected GPA to the hundreths place. That way it actually looks like I have given some thought to what my actual GPA is.
GS actually lets applicants select "predicted" for their GPA.
I actually just had someone ask me this question in an email (not sure if it's the same person or not, but either way). I completely agree with everyone else. Your anticipated GPA does not belong in your resume. If you want to put it in there, that's your choice, but you still absolutely need your actual cumulative GPA in there first. Your resume is a summary of your experiences and overall candidacy up to the day you apply, not up to whenever you want to stop. This is why your experiences should be past tense, your cumulative GPA is up to your latest grades received, etc. I'm not trying to be an ass about it, I'm just trying to keep other people from making similar mistakes such as this or putting work experiences on your resume with bullet points in future tense - I will build DCF models, etc. Good luck.
Dude... Couple things to note:
(1) GS allows "predicted" GPA to give applicants some leeway, i.e. it's the end of the semester and you do not have grades 100% finalized yet. They're not saying, "If you're a sophomore in college, you can predict a 4.0 for your next five semesters and submit that GPA." C'mon, think about it.
(2) What is your GPA? Unless it's sub-3.0, leaving it off is a huge mistake. I've looked at a few resumes and have been told how to flip through resume books by my associates, and unless you've developed a cure for cancer and hitchhiked around the world for the past 3 years (and wrote a book about it), if you leave your GPA off you get tossed in the trash. And I work at a MM bank. Can't imagine someone at GS is going to look at a resume without a GPA... First thing they'll look at is school, second thing is GPA, and if it's not there that makes it an easy way to save 15 seconds.
(3) Predicted GPA to the hundredths? This is absolutely foolish. If you have a sub-par GPA up to this point, what the heck makes you think you can acceptably inflate your GPA for the predicted periods?
If you put down a GPA that's not even close to what you have and they see your transcript, you're going to lose any chance you may have (or offer if you've been lucky enough to get one).
Think about it for a second. I intend to go into PE after my banking stint and then go to HBS after that... Can I put that on my resume? That should get me noticed by pretty much any fund I contact, right?
The people who advised you about how to look at resumes are not that smart. Those no reason to ding someone for an interview if they have outstanding qualifications and better work qualifications than the asian who studies all day and has a 3.9, but spends summers at Ernst & Young.
I got an interview at MS last year and didn't even put a damn GPA on my resume. GPA is bull because there are so many ways it can be twisted. For instance, mid semester, if you're experiencing trouble in a class you can just take it Pass and then it won't even affect your GPA. All the bank know this, which is why those that are serious about GPA, ask for a transcript before the interview.
What is your GPA?
It's going to be 3.75. If GS, the leader, says it's acceptable to put predicted down that's what I'm going to do. And, as I said before, I got an interview at MS last year and didn't even put down a GPA.
There's no correlation behind GPA and quality of work performed at a bank anyway. Plenty of successful bankers that had 3.0s....
probably for operations
Some of you, who already have 3.75s at top colleges, are just frustrated because I've found a way to beat around the system a little bit, so you feel, for some reason, as if you have worked for nothing. Sorry, that's life.
Uh, no. We could care less that you're going to shoot yourself in the foot. That's your own damn problem - however, your resorting to that line of thought demonstrates a deeper insecurity, past your GPA.
I'm getting sick of all these asshats on WSO.
^^^Ur the one who has almost 400 "monkey points" and spends all ur time on here probably. I haven't even been a member for 24 hours and I'm already sick of all of you one dimensional ass holes. The winners who will make it big time aren't wasting their time on this site....
Well glad to know that I'm wasting my time on this site, and that I am a one-dimensional asshole - it's always nice to know that advice is appreciated. Getting beyond all of that, let's get away from this back and forth junk. Here is the bottom line: your anticipated GPA does not belong on your resume - it has not happened yet and therefore does not belong on a resume. You got an interview without having your GPA on your resume which means that person didn't care about your GPA that much - without seeing a GPA on a resume, I assume your cumulative GPA is around a 3.0 - if it is higher than that, put it on your resume.
While there are definitely people who go out of their way to attack others on this site, most people are pretty solid overall and the advice you have received, whether courteous or not, is valid - leave the anticipated GPA off of the resume. No, putting it on your resume will not kill your chances at any interview, nor will having a bad GPA on your resume for that matter. The point is, why put something on your resume that isn't necessary and will rub many people the wrong way. I get it, you want to have a good GPA - I get it, a lot of people have a great GPA with little else. The fact is, this is not your ticket to beating the low cumulative GPA - your ticket is to either focus on your major GPA, become confident with your cumulative GPA and be ready to explain how it happened and how you now expect it to be north of a 3.7 as you've gotten your act together, or both. GPA does in no way reflect how well you will do in banking - but rubbing people the wrong way, or lacking confidence, definitely provides a much clearer picture - just relax, forget the anticipated GPA until it is no longer anticipated, and focus on the rest of your resume, which it sounds to me, is pretty strong, based on your descriptions.
Good luck and don't be bitter or lose confidence - I'm not trying to bring you down, I'm trying to keep you up and on the right path.
Should I put down my predicted GPA on Resume for internship? (Originally Posted: 02/06/2015)
I have 1 question: I am currently a junior, spring semester, and applying for summer internship. However, my overall GPA is not that high, so can I predict and put my GPA after spring semester instead of my current GPA? When are the employers will check the transcript?
Do not do this - you are essentially lying and it is unethical.
If your competition did the same the whole practice of putting GPA on a resume would be for nothing.
Don't do this. What if you're wrong (+ or -) - you'll be risking any offers you might receive. Furthermore, since this is your 6th semester of college grades it's unlikely this is going to move your GPA that much.
Consequuntur odit est consequatur quia velit. Beatae in quaerat ea dolor quis voluptas. Qui ducimus aut minima accusantium.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Est ad cumque aut et hic qui. Impedit qui accusamus possimus et enim fugit quidem. Architecto voluptatem nulla facilis assumenda rerum. Sunt et exercitationem quidem.
Fuga perspiciatis numquam atque culpa. Placeat sint esse corrupti ut molestias in facere. Et natus rem ipsam. Magnam veniam nobis dolor commodi. Fuga quia fugit neque repudiandae possimus omnis.