Below 3.0...somehow still getting interviews at Boutiques
So my GPA is around a 2.9 but through networking, etc. I've managed to pile up some great finance experience and activities (I'm at a semi-target on the West coast)
I've managed to get 3-4 interviews at boutiques for analyst and a BA interview at a BB...
I interview well...always get past phone screening and usually get called back for a second person meeting, that is until the GPA subject comes up.
Am I just fucked? Be honest, it won't hurt.
You should probably have a good response to the inevitable GPA question. And it probably shouldn't be "because I'm not very smart." Many people drop the ball on GPA, often in freshman year etc. You should turn your academic failure into a sort of lesson that you aren't proud of, but you've learned from and purged some of your bad work habits etc. Some interviewers will not be able to get over it, others won't give a damn about grades if they like you and see potential in you.
Yeah I blame freshman and sophomore year for not caring/not knowing what I wanted to do...
thanks for the response...I'll try to make it a "well i know i messed up but i learned this this and this" response.
Was your 2.9 in Marshall?
as someone with a relatively low college gpa, you've got to 1 - prove that you're smart enough for the job 2 - demonstrate that what you did with your time, which others used to study, is valuable to them 3 - be a cool dude, e.g. you've got to ace the airport test, they've got to leave the interview thinking man, i want to hang out with this guy
Very well said. Sub 3.0 at a BB is very doable.
REALLY? In what division? Ive always heard sub 3.5(from non-target) is tough but you can squeeze into a BB in a back office position.
And to the OP, does it say your GPA on your resume? If they see it on your res, and still give you a phone interview, wouldnt one assume they are considering you, so long as you can provide a satisfying answer to your low GPA.
my advice would be to: - take responsibility for your GPA, don't make excuses - if you have had a positive trend to your GPA mention that, say you had trouble with the hs to college adjustment - if you worked a lot and was really active on campus mention that (not all students are)
"say you had trouble with the hs to college adjustment"
Definitely would not use this. If you can't transition from high school to college, then you definitely will have a hard time transitioning from college to working 80-100 hours a week.
Just say that you came to college thinking it would be all partying and blah blah.. and that's what you did freshmen year.. but once GPA came in.. you knew you were screwed.. spent hours.. months.. thinking about your future. and finally decided to get back on track..
Ling~
Okay - I didn't mean it was very doable as in it gets done all the time. It's clearly an uphill battle, but if you network your ass off, know your finance, and are personable you can do it. Your GPA only gets you in the door.
nystateofmind: There's always a reason, though. Either the person is in a tough major (engineering, hard sciences, etc.), or they have a convincing upward trend, or they have some SERIOUS commitment (e.g. varsity rowing), and so on.
My friend's contact told him he could literally guarantee him an interview in IBD at his particular firm (a "lower BB") if not for his sub-3.0, because they have a bare minimum policy stated there.
S&T is a completely different world, but in IBD they want mindless, persistent plug-and-chuggers. Your best bet if you're looking for these types is a high GPA. Some kid with a high SAT/IQ but low GPA would probably come across as the least compatible for IBD.
Generally, I agree. But I can count on 2 hands kids who are exceptionally charming and intelligent who simply partied away their GPA freshman and sophomore year. Several of these kids are at non-targets. It's easy to get around your GPA networking and having others forward your resume around, even if the GPA isn't on the resume. They all had high SATs, were very well spoken and personable, and knew their stuff. I'm just saying a low GPA can be completely overcome by personality and persistence.
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