GOT A BB SUPERDAY WITH 2.0 GPA- HELP!
Hi everyone,
I got a final round for ib at a Tier 1 BB. The MD liked me and pushed me into the process without having to apply formally online with a transcript. However, HR emailed me asking for my transcript and I have an abysmal gpa for my statistics major. I sent it with a note attached describing why my grades weren't impressive. Part of it was due to family trauma and the other half due to school involvement and running a company.
I'm wondering what to do now. How do I justify my grades honestly in a way that does not compromise my ability for the role? I've worked hard to get here and grades were never a question during the networking process so I'm glad my raw potential was recognized.
Any advice helps!
goldenringo
congrats. love seeing stories like this and hard work.
you got the interview and that is all that matters. be polished and prepped well and you will come across like everyone else.
address your GPA briefly and/if they ask and move on do not dwell too much. you obviously are capable and have potential if you got the interview
Hi Jake, thanks so much!
Are there any specific questions regarding my gpa and my candidacy you think they might ask? I was so scared when I submitted my transcript as my interview is very soon and I don't want them to look at it and be like "are you fking kidding me?" and lose interest before the interview.
If your GPA does come up during the interview, I think it is best you do everything you can to minimize their doubts about your intelligence and work ethic. Definitely come off polished, confident and ready to handle all the technical questions. Bringing up the company you ran is also an impressive point you can talk about.
Thank you Mike! I will definitely speak to my experience being a co-founder, I have learned more in that position than in class.
At this point it doesn't matter that much. Just don't lie about it - which it doesn't sound like you did.
Doesn't mean it can't happen, but I've never been asked about grades in a super - even when they had my transcript. Seems like it's more of an HR thing to look at the transcript as I've never seen bankers actually look at these. These days are mostly for the bankers to test your knowledge / generally get to know you better. If it were me as the interviewer, I'd personally focus on your company as that's a lot more interesting and a better testament to your abilities, in my opinion, but of course there are people who won't see it this way.
But I don't think they'll cancel your super or anything
It was HR and one of the analysts who is playing a role in the interview/hiring process so I was pretty worried. This is my first superday so I am a bit anxious but your advice really helps! Thank you.
UPDATE:
Turns out they all had my transcript printed and with them during the interview cycles. During my third interview I was a bit distracted as one of the directors was reading my transcript the entire time. He commented on the disconnect between whats on paper and the eloquent and involved candidate he is facing. I took it and quickly justified the timeline of poor grades while concluding how I prioritized professional development over academics-all done in confidence. I emphasized the notion of accountability in teamwork and professional collaboration and how that is the key differentiator between my academic performance and what I've achieved with EC's and ventures. Each interview emphasized technicals just as much as emphasizing fit, it was a clear 50-50 split. If anything, I was more prepared for technicals than I was for behavioral questions. So I know for next time that I must rehearse each spiel expected to be more effective than winging it. I did not get the offer but I'd like my post to inspire those in my position with the low GPA. It is doable but of course you'll need to compensate for the candidates with both great involvement AND high GPA through intense prep and internal networking. I do not think I got rejected because of my grades but likely due to the quality and preparedness of the other candidates. The track record at this firm seems as if they have a preference for commerce/business ugrads and of course that insinuates the other candidates may have more knowledge/skill and don't need as much guidance, so perhaps that was another factor! The road doesn't end at a low GPA, I'm talking south of 3.0, so build valuable relationships now and reap the benefits later. But like myself, focus on boosting your grades. It is not a metric of your competence but it is for this process, take advantage while you can.
Major props to you for being able to land a Superday.
From my experience, having the MD repping you helps but, the rest of the group has to approve of you too. If the team learns of your 2.0 before Superday I'd be willing to bet that most of the guys interviewing you will grill you technically. Know the WSO and M&I 400 guides as much as you can.
Thank you so much! I agree as well, my selling point is how I'm a great talker and negotiator. I know the GPA demonstrates the "grind" but I promise I'm competent. Thankfully, I have those guides and I'm presently going at them to prep!!
How did you already get a super day? Didn't applications just open? Also, don't most banks wait to ask for your transcript until they give you an offer?
I was networking heavily with the MD before applications closed. I got the superday and then the day after they requested my transcript. I got lucky.
Is this for Summer 2018 or 2019?
Easy solution. Just come up with a pro-forma GPA. Start with your actual of 2.0 and add on normalizations for things like family trauma etc. to get you up a couple points. Even if you don't get the job, guarantee you will go down in history as the legend who applied for a job with a pro-forma GPA.
Hey Ryry, could you please expand on that? I'm not sure how to determine a pro-forma GPA.
He's joking. Please don't do that.
lololol
We're rooting for you man. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Thank you! :D
I am not rooting for you, goldenringo . In fact, I am rooting so hard against you that I threw MS at each and every one of your posts!
As a successful entrepreneur, CEO and role model to young businessmen trying to break into the sector - I find that setbacks are often conducive to breakthrough thought experiments. In the realm of better business, in order to build a brand and reach your optimal thrive-state, you must first experience failure.
ya but he may have already experienced failure? how do you know he hasn't??
what company is this for?
think MS/JPM/Citi
non-target or target?
Target
Kids like this make me sick. They think they can just skate through life half assing their work, only to find out they actually can skate through life thanks to daddy’s connections
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