I know that for investment banking, networking your ass off can overcome a lower GPA. Is that the same for management consulting? I ask this because the father of a friend I had in high school is one of the top people in the McKinsey office of my home town. My GPA isn't horrible (3.2-3.3), but it's certainly not ideal for consulting.
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of course. the caveat being its how you approach networking that matters.
Networking will help you get the foot in the door.
Last summer was my freshman summer and I did ER at a MM IB, my cumm GPA was 2.0. I can't speak for your chances at McKinsey, but generally I think you can make it
Just "knowing someone" can help inferior people get very far. Simply a fact. Unless you are referring to a 2.5 or something.
Networking can overcome a low GPA and get you up to the plate. Then it's up to you to hit it out of the park. I am a senior at a non-target school with a 2.37 GPA in Middle Eastern History. I networked my a$$ off (stayed consistent but respectful) and just accepted an offer in S&T with a MM firm. What's important is having a story for why your GPA is low and why whatever that reason is, it will not hinder you from being extremely successful in full time work. GPA matters most at getting past the HR gatekeepers and into the interview. That's what networking is best for. Make sure you are confident about why you want to do consulting and be able to clearly articulate to your contact why you would be a great fit for the role. It's your job to make them feel confident in their referral. Good luck!
This isn't as true for consulting, especially if we're talking about MBB. Networking can get someone with a 3.5 an interview, but 3.3-3.4 is pushing it. Is it impossible? No. But there would have to be something very very impressive about the person otherwise. There simply are too many kids who are qualified.
Would a high GMAT (750+) help with that regard?
Networking Success but Low GPA? (Originally Posted: 05/09/2011)
Because of my fortunate networking opportunities, I was able to land an internship this summer at a pretty high-tier finance firm. The person that I'm interning for told me that there shouldn't be a problem, but that I still needed to wait for HR to call and confirm things with me.
I guess my question is, if my supervisor stated that I'm in and that there shouldn't be a problem, will how I answer HR questions impact anything? I have a pretty low GPA (3.0), and I guess I'm worried that once the company finds out my GPA they'll find some way to kick me out. Is this likely to happen? My supervisor never asked for my GPA, so no one really knows it at this point..
If you have a senior partner recommending you, you'll likely be able to get an interview spot. After that, how you do on the case interviews will be all that matters.
No nothing will happen. If the supervisor liked you and never asked you for the GPA then it doesn't matter. You should be fine.
Agree with nelly0. Quit worrying and be happy you got that internship!!
Shouldn't be a problem. HR are like secretaries
Agreed, haha, about HR.
But yeah, you shouldn't have a problem at all - a low GPA is only a means of weeding people out in the early stages - once you make it past that and they want to hire you, a low GPA isn't going to hurt you. The only potential exception here could be if you blatantly lied - said you had a 3.9, they required above a 3.3 and you actually had a 2.9, for example.
In your situation you're good to go. Congrats on the offer.
Good job man.. Tell us how you did it and again, Congrats
Never bring it up, you're golden. If a conversation about schools, majors, etc comes up, change the subject onto sports, women, ANYTHING but GPA. Work you ass off so you can put some impressive shit on your resume and then go through the same process next year. Cut and repeat.
By the time you graduate, GPA will be a non-issue [DO try and to well throughout the rest of college]
I know this works because I did it.....
What if it's a director at an MBB firm?
With connections how much lower does the non-target gpa requirement become? (Originally Posted: 04/01/2007)
General consensus on this board is if you are coming from a non-target to have a legitimate shot at an interview you should have a 3.7+ gpa.
With connections, how much lower does the non-target gpa requirement go?
My guess is to a 3.5 at bare minimum.
Any thoughts?
Yeah, right around there, although I know more than a few non-targets with 3.3 or 3.4s in there. However, these guys are by and far the exception and not the rule. Obviously, the higher the GPA, the better your chances.
Also, not all connections are equal.
Definitely. I mean you can't compare a Division head with an MD. I think from a non-target considering connection as in an MD (not the CEO, CFO, Global Division head etc.) that the min is around 3.5 like you said, but every case as a non-target is different.
I am in a non-target school and I have seen people getting summer internships at BBs with GPA's less than 3.5. I guess it depends on how good your connections are.
completely depends on how good the "connection" is...to say that there is a cut off is BS. Sure, your dad better be CEO at a BB somewhere if you have a 2.5, but I would not be surprised if someone landed in IB with a 3.0 with some decent connections (and decent interview skills).
I think an MD-level contact means that one can have a good, but not necessarily great GPA at his/her SPECIFIC INSTITUTION. I saw a guy with a 3.4 at a non-target land a BB IBD interview after impressing an MD he met through friends at the bank. However, the dean's list cutoff in his specific program was 3.4.
IBO should create some sort of worksheet where different stats are entered in, weighed differently, and then spit out a % or score for application strength...
Not the most accurate of all measures, but a rough estimate of chances.
Thoughts?
I've heard of MDs practically walking in whoever their connection is into the summer internship.
If you think about the status of a MD within an investment bank combined with the people they know very well such as other MDs and group heads along with corporate officers, they have A LOT of pull in getting someone into the firm.
I think it depends a lot on the nature of the connection's relationship to you. If it's your dad or mom, it obviously helps a lot more since (a) they gun harder to get you in and (b) the bank knows that they (the connection) care A LOT about getting you in so HR makes every effort to get you in. I know of people who've lived near or been family friends with someone senior (higher than MD) at a bank yet had no luck..I really think being related is key.
my question is once you are in do they base youre FT offer (assuming we are talking about an internship) on your connection or are you still getting carried by the connection?
Obviously, I guess it depends on the individual.
GPA doesnt matter
You have to realize at the end of the day, even if you have a low gpa but still made it to the case interview round and did well on the cases, chances are there are other students who did equally well or even better on the case interviews, yet still look better "on paper" than you. Therefore, networking can help a LITTLE, but you better have some crazy ass nepotism or serious connections to get far.
If you were giving a case interview and had to choose between candidate A, who had a 2.5-3.3 gpa, versus candidate B, who had a 3.7-4.0 gpa, and they were both equally impressive in the case/behavioral, who would you choose? Hell, if Candidate A was slightly better or suggested something interesting and candidate B didn't, I'd still go with candidate B because of the upside potential.
Networking>GPA (Originally Posted: 11/09/2010)
I was doing some GPA calculations today and they were not pretty. How bad is it to have a 3.4 GPA? should I kiss banking good bye?
I have a SOLID network, but all they f*cking ask whenever I see them is, how's the GPA son? Is a anything below 3.7 really atrocious?
I have a solid BB on my resume and I lined up a summer internship in securitization.
Am I screwed? Can I turn that 3.4 into a 3.7 by junior year?
3.4 is a little low but doable. networking becomes more of a numbers game the lower your GPA is.
and to answer your last question, you can do the math. see if you can sign up for 4 credit courses or a summer course or something
Experience and reputation are always the trump card.
You are in OK shape if you get the full-time offer.
You are also in OK shape if you're in a difficult quantitative major where a 3.4 GPA is above average like engineering, math, or physics.
Ok great I was starting to consider ops for a minute.
i did it with a lower GPA... keep networking...
GPA - Strong reference (Originally Posted: 11/21/2013)
Hey guys
How important is GPA if I have a strong reference when applying to an IB's Asset Management arm? 2.5 GPA, non target, sciences track with plenty of background in finance (more than most finance applicants), working towards economics as a second major.
Is the above any different if the targeted firm is an independent asset manager (think Fidelity, PIMCO, etc.)?
thanks
I know PIMCO will only recruit >3.5 GPA from Wharton (for undergrad). Take that as you may
With a weak GPA, you have two hurdles to overcome:
1) To get the interview. This can be tough unless you're a networking guru or have someone important in the organization that will go to bat for you. 2) Once at the interview, ease their fears over your GPA. With a 2.5 from a non-target, they'll think you're lazy and/or stupid. You need to articulate that you're a changed person from those 'C' days. Furthermore, you should demonstrate that it's not a true reflection of your capabilities, be it either intellectual or time management.
Problem is I'm not liking my major (engineering). I help business students with their accounting, finance, and economics homework. I am not lazy or stupid, but I dont want to take such an easy major (finance, economics, etc.).
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