So I'm currently in a software engineering internship and I genuinely hate my life each and every day. So I've been looking more and more into consulting, and have started networking. I have one more summer left for an internship before I have to graduate, but the only problem is my GPA is kind of low ( ~ 3.2). I'm posting on WSO to ask if I even have a chance at interviews for internships for next summer at Tier 1 or Tier 2 Consulting firms ( anything but MBB cause I know those are way out of my league). Also I currently seem to find tech consulting more interesting, I was wondering if I had a chance at an interview if I kept on networking for it too?
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Depends on your school as well I imagine but Deloitte requires a 3.5 to apply for S&O (IIRC). Deloitte's a very networking driven firm so keep at making those quality relationships and pitch your resume to make yourself an interesting and worthwhile candidate.
I think for Business Tech Consulting it is 3.4, I do not think they have cutoffs for S&O but having said that it only makes sense for it to be higher than Business Tech.
My experience with the big firms was they went more for the frat/sorority social butterflies. Not necessarily the smartest. Hence why I never worked for them :p.
Bad GPA... Doomed?? (Originally Posted: 05/03/2007)
So here's my dilemma... I graduated college and got my BA in B.S. .. lol.. j/k.. I got it in Economics. However, my GPA was, for the lack of a better word, crappy... Is there really any chance for someone with a bad GPA to get into I-Banking? I'm talking below 3.0, but greater than 2.5.
I'm actually a smart person. In my previous school I had a 3.5 QPA.. but when I transferred to this school my GPA took a turn for the worse.. Bad teachers, Bad TA's.. went from a small school to a LARGE school, plus too much partying. I know I've got the drive and determination to make it in the I-banking field, and I've read about all the hard work and hours and stuff, but I'm pulling that at my current job, so it's not going to be any different. My problem is that I don't quite have the grades to prove it. I guess I'm one of those people that when it comes to school and testing, I'm just bad at it. But when I'm at work I'm a completely different person, I'm pretty much all those things listed in the job requirements.
Also, not having a GPA on my resume is killing me, I feel that recruiters just toss it when they see no GPA no matter how great my cover letter or resume look. The only internship I had was in my previous school but it was for Computer Science at my schools Computer Resource Center (Computer Lab Consultant).
I guess I'm screwed.
Any techniques or ideas.. any Learning Programs I should take? Or do I have to just settle for trying to hit the lotto.. or pray for a mircale? I dont really want to settle for a career change?
With all those I-bankers out there I know that not ALL of them were straight "A" students.. any suggestions?
Thanks!
Pretty sure you'll need to do an MBA or have a reallllly good connection
I've seen a 2.9 land a BB IB job but this guy was stacked in extracurriculars: Eagle Scout, 1590 SAT I, 3x800 SAT II, double major in applied math and engineering. Plus this guy is a born salesman with a baller resume and two top-tier engineering internships under his belt.
Your during-college work experience is thin and your GPA is Really low. I rarely say this, but you will need a hell of a lot of luck. Gshell is right, the MBA is probably your best bet (if your work experience is incredible, then maybe you can land yourself a spot at a solid school).
Hey guys,
Thanks for your kind replies. I was expecting someone to just flame me and tell me to get off the site.. lol
But the only problem with the MBA solution is that I ran out of all my money (including student loans). So I really can't afford going back to get my MBA. I was hoping I get a job with some I-bank doing whatever until I can get enough money to go back and get my MBA.. also some places even pay for you to get it.
Is there a certain amount of time that must pass after graduating college where you dont have to put your school GPA?
Thanks!
well, you have to put your GPA for each school, but they'll focus on your graduate school gpa similar to how nobody cares about your high school gpa once you have a college gpa.
You can always take a loan and get your MA in Econ.
so I just found out that one of my good friends is an extremely close cousin of the wife of the Co-Head of IBD at a boutique firm in NYC (confused yet?), The problem is that he's ALWAYS busy and traveling. I want to see if he can do something to help me out, but I would feel like he has WAYY better things to do. Plus, I don't know him. Any ideas?
I don't know whether you believe me or not.. haha.. but I guess the Six Degrees of Separation is in full effect.. lol..
I can't e-mail him though because I don't have his e-mail address, and I doubt that HR will just give it to me if I call to ask for his e-mail. So I'm thinking about just mailing him a letter via USPS. I'd rather do that instead of asking my friend for his e-mail cause I dont know how comfortable she is in giving out his personal e-mail.
Don't worry, I won't start it with "I am contacting you because my close friend is your wife's close cousin. Can you hook me up?" ;D
I think the best thing to do is just lie about your GPA. It's risky, yes, but many of my analyst colleagues have done that and lived to tell about it. Besides, you'd better have the balls for this b/c I really don't see any other way for you to land an ibanking job anyway.
I'm definately not down to lie about my GPA on my resume because it's already tough trying to get a job with a bad GPA.. I can't imagine how much worse it'll be if/when HR finds out and I'm fired over it.
Start out a complete shithole investment banking boutique, and lateral after a year or two to more of a middle-market (or higher, if possible) firm...i think it can be done
I guess I probably have to start out in a shithold boutique, then laterally move to another firm.. and make my way up like that. Being hispanic, I was hoping that I can probably get a job through affirmative action.. lol... hey i'll take the position anyway that I can.. ;)
3.2 is on the low end for tech consulting but some firms may bite depending on your school, the company of your software eng. internship, and leadership/EC experience.
I was able to get a Big 4 tech consulting internship my junior summer with a 3.2 but had decent internship experience and ECs.
bad major gpano offer am i screwed (Originally Posted: 09/01/2011)
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