For getting IBD interviews I hear that once your GPA is above 3.9 or so differences don't really matter (i.e. no diff between 3.91 and 3.97) unless its a 4.0. Is this true? Thanks!
| +197 | Americas M&A League Table Q2 Updated | 79 | 3h |
| +131 | Restructuring: Anti-climactic Experience | 34 | 1d |
| +102 | IB Net Worth / Savings Check | 49 | 25m |
| +91 | Woman who emptied Knicks trashcan on street then stole it was DEI exec, worked at JPMorgan Chase | 24 | 13h |
| +80 | Stop sleeping on UBS - it’s pretty good | 26 | 2h |
| +52 | 2026 VAULT PRESTIGE RANKINGS | 29 | 1d |
| +39 | AI + Financial Modelling | 12 | 1d |
| +30 | Hardest interview experiences? | 16 | 23h |
| +28 | Summer before college | 17 | 13h |
| +26 | Current State of UBS in North America | 8 | 2d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Not true. A GPA of 3.9550 from non-target > 3.91 target.
doesn't matter 3.9X is a 3.9. I would even say 4.0 might show that you're too anal or "game" your classes such that they are all easy or something. Unless everything else is equally as impressive I would scrutinize the classes that the 4.0 person took...
In all honesty I would say that once your GPA is at 3.5 or so it doesn't really matter. I do go to HYPS school though. Part of it will depend on what your major is. The expectation will be higher for fuzzier majors than for engineering, etc.
If you get a 3.99 from Yale, then you are in an infinitely better spot than someone who got a 3.98 from Harvard. It's science.
3.5 is really all you need from a target, especially if you're in a tough major.
I always hear from people how everyone at school (target) who gets jobs have 3.9s, 3.8s etc, and that 3.7 is the cutoff for a major like econ unless you have a strong connection.
At the very least i would assume there is a significant diff between a 3.5 and a 3.7/3.8 - is that true? Sorry , Im pretty ignorant to the whole recruiting process so some help would be great.
There is much more to your candidacy than your GPA once you get above a certain cutoff. Generally, 3.3 to 3.5 is pretty much the same as they are the first batch over the hard cutoff of a 3.3 that many banks have. From a 3.5 it begins to look the same although a 3.7 is loosely the next tier. After a 3.7 there isn't really much of a difference in terms of how attractive you are as an applicant based solely on your GPA. Sure, it is nice to see a 3.94 or a 3.88, but it really isn't THAT much better, and won't, on it's own, stand out that much more than a 3.75.
Ironically, I know if students who are holding a 4.0 and applying for internships and get drilled on their GPA - having a 4.0 is definitely impressive, but many interviewers will try to push a few buttons and ask some questions about course selection, and what else you like to do outside of class to really test your fit. Anything in the 3.9s is incredible and you won't go wrong with a 3.91 vs a 3.98 - that said, you won't go wrong with a 3.81 either.
Beyond a certain level you need to focus on the rest of your candidacy and your networking efforts - if you attend a target school there should be numerous options available both in terms of ECs/work experience and alumni network, so make the most of it all. Besides your GPA, there is your school, your experience, your club involvement/ECs, your interview skills if you get the interview and so forth - don't become so fixated on your GPA that you either become oblivious to the rest of your candidacy or, worse, become complacent in that you believe your 3.94 will carry you through all of your interviews.
For a few more words on the GPA issue, you can check this out: http://www.bankonbanking.com/2009/09/20/rounding-your-gpa-and-other-gpa…
IBanker www.BankonBanking.com [email protected] Interview Prep, Resume Revisions, and the New IB Survival Guide – The most common interview questions and answers revealed! News, Articles, Products, Services and More - Stop by Now!
Illum voluptas accusamus qui maiores nihil sint ullam. Voluptas non perspiciatis recusandae quas. Sed numquam eum harum sit enim nobis. Temporibus quia dolorem eos sunt voluptates magnam eius.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...