Based on the insights from Wall Street Oasis, it's clear that while a minor in a technical field like Computer Science can provide valuable skills and demonstrate your ability to handle technical tasks, the importance of maintaining a high GPA cannot be overstated, especially in the initial screening process of recruitment. Here are some key points to consider:

  1. GPA Importance: GPA is a critical factor in the recruitment process, especially for highly competitive fields like investment banking or consulting. It often serves as a primary filter in the early stages of resume screening.

  2. Value of Minors: Minors are generally considered less important than your major. The consensus from discussions suggests that recruiters typically focus more on your major and the overall strength of your academic performance (GPA).

  3. Technical Skills: A minor in Computer Science can be beneficial as it equips you with technical skills that are increasingly valuable in many industries. For instance, knowing basic data structures and algorithms can allow you to pivot into technical roles more easily.

  4. Balancing Act: If you decide to pursue a minor in a challenging subject like Computer Science, it's crucial to balance your course load to protect your GPA. This might involve strategic selection of courses and professors that are known to be more manageable.

  5. Recruiter Perspectives: While a minor can enhance your resume by showing a breadth of skills, especially in technical areas, it should not come at the cost of a significantly lower GPA. Recruiters often use GPA as a straightforward metric to narrow down the candidate pool.

In conclusion, while a CS minor can add value, it should not significantly detract from maintaining a strong GPA. Prioritize your courses and manage your workload to ensure that you can excel in both areas without compromising your academic performance.

Sources: 5 Steps To Becoming A Rockstar Freshman (Undergrad Advice), Undergrad: Is computer science 'hotter' than a business degree?, At what point does GPA hit diminishing returns for recruitment?, Did my GPA screw up my application?, Easy A classes?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

From my understanding, only do the minor if you have a genuine interest in it or it will boost your GPA. Major and GPA are more forefront on applications, and there isn’t much “prestige” to a hard minor like there may be to a more difficult major. Don’t think tanking your GPA for a minor is worth the risk/sacrifice.

 

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