close look @ transcript?

I had a question about firms seeing transcripts after you've been given an interview but before you've reached the offer stage.

How closely do firms look at your transcript? I am an engineering major, and I'm purposely saving a lot of the hardest classes for senior year when my GPA doesn't matter as much. Will consulting firms examine my transcript closely enough to realize this?

38 Comments
 

I don't think it's going to get you dinged but from experience people at least ask about the class if it's an obvious D on your transcript even if it's retaken, if you toss them a copy of your transcript during a conversation that is.

 
Funniest

Goldman Sachs called my 2nd grade teacher to ask if I liked the jungle gym or the big slide better. They later cross examine you during the 3rd round interview to make sure the stories match up.

 
BTbanker

Goldman Sachs called my 2nd grade teacher to ask if I liked the jungle gym or the big slide better. They later cross examine you during the 3rd round interview to make sure the stories match up.

It's actually the 3rd grade teacher, 2nd round interview - stop lying to the kid .

speed boost blaze
 

They most likely would not look at transcripts until after job is offered and accepted. Your one B in accounting with a 3.7 GPA (assuming that GPA is reflected on your transcript) will not make a difference.

"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."
 

The only time I showed my transcript was my first day of FT training and I had a strong GPA clocking in at .4 less than the firm minimum (I work at a BB). Luckily I never got asked my GPA during recruiting for the SA spot and I didn't have it on my resume so I guess I got lucky.

I would agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong.
 

Apparently my interviewers from JPM didn't pay much attention to my transcript prior to OCR. Maybe HR screened it before forwarding my resume to bankers.

 

The 3.85 gpa will far outweigh the mess from freshman year. They'll look at your transcript primarily to see how you did in the classes that are most relevant (math, finance, econ). The W and D in particular will stand out, but if you've done well in the relevant classes, the freshman debacle shouldn't keep you from getting serious consideration for an interview.

You can include a note in your application explaining what happened freshman year, and you should expect to have to explain what happened in any interviews.

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GPA is what matters. You are going to have people with 4.0's in soft majors from top schools. Do you think their lack of econ or calc is going to hurt them?

 

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