Your GPA is very important, but not having a good one won't keep you from getting a job on Wall Street. It definitely varies by industry, too. Sales and trading jobs are more likely to take someone with a low GPA who played a varsity sport. Investment banking jobs may overlook a low GPA if you have strong leadership experience or started a company.
Why It's Important
Having a solid GPA shows that you put in the time and effort necessary to achieve a good education. It also shows that you're willing to do the work, no matter what it is and whether or not you like it. Most banks have a "gpa cutoff" of a 3.5. This usually isn't set in stone, but you may have trouble getting to an interview with under a 3.5. For targets and semi-targets, this is a bit more lax. For a non-target you will probably want to aim for a 3.7 or 3.8 GPA. You may very well be able to get to an interview with a lower GPA, but a higher one makes it far more likely.
Factors That Overcome GPA
There are many factors that could overcome a low GPA, here are just a few of them:
- Overwhelming Personal Circumstances: parent passed away, major surgery (brain surgery or open heart surgery), devastating illness (cancer)
- Started a business: This doesn't mean you set up a website, worked on it for a month or two and then gave up. This means you worked your ass off for a year or two trying to get a business up and running, whether it was successful or not
- Internships: Good internship experience can overcome just about any shortfall in your resume. Having a 2.5 GPA and a fall semester PWM internship won't cut it.
Additional Resources:
- Relevant WSO Guides: Networking Guide
- Relevant WSO Services: Wall Street Mentors and Career Coaching and Finance Resume Review
- Relevant WSO Forums: Getting A Job
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