I’ve heard the job requires very strong attention to detail, good work ethic and some baseline level of common sense and intelligence.
That makes me wonder if the best analysts are the ones who would need to have high undergrad GPAs. I come from a t50 undergrad and have a 3.2, so was thinking I’d be a better fit for equity research recruiting, which I understand doesn’t have as high of a gpa requirement. Any thoughts?
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I’ve found the kids with a decently good to very high gpa tend to do fine in the analyst role, but would agree if you have a low one like 3.2, equity research is probably where you should spend your efforts recruiting
Is ER known for low GPAs? First I’m hearing of it. 3.2 would definitely be considered low
It’s gonna be tough getting into ib with 3.2 man, especially because you didn’t go to a good school. Try ER, Sales or Corporate Treasury
It would depend on the firm's definition of "low GPA", compared to the stats of your competition, and what market you are facing.
Right now, there are plenty of really brilliant candidates who can barely land roles due to the market, job cuts.
I have also never met anyone who would be considered "really bad at school" within IB. If a lower GPA can be explained, then I would do that (i.e. death in the family, financial struggles, death of a friend, mental health issue, ..)
ER has a smaller intake compared to IB and the dispersion of experience and qualifications among new hires varies greatly. It would not be prudent to underestimate the difficulty of ER recruiting.
The idea that you can’t do anything because you have a 3.2 is dumb. GPA is an imperfect representation of talent since it rewards easier classes / gamesmanship and discounts intellectual rigor (engineering kids know this well.) You’ve made your life harder then it needs to be for sure but the game is hardly over. Do whatever it is you really want to do.
I did aerospace engineering before finance.
If anyone explains they have a low GPA because they did engineering, I have seen MDs automatically ding that candidate.
It is very difficult to get a low GPA if you are hardworking - unless there were extenuating circumstances.
I have seen a few lower GPA land IB but not personally at my firm so can’t speak on what was the deciding factor.
I was really responding to title and first paragraph (can someone do this job with low GPA and best analysts have high GPA.) Obviously do not dispute you can get dinged for low GPA but the idea that someone in Aerospace Engineering with a low 3 is dumber than a Econ major with high 3s is asinine to me.
Low GPA doesn’t necessarily mean a person is incapable, but an incapable person means a low GPA.
And don’t give me the engineering nonsense.
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