Low GPA a big issue for exit ops from top firm?

I'll be joining a top MM firm (Jeffs / Harris Williams) as an off-cycle hire. My GPA is at a 3.13.

I'm looking to exit into PE / VC after two years. Would my GPA be a huge deterrent to my opportunities when headhunters come looking assuming I have solid recommendations and deal experience?

I understand my MBA chances are going to be an uphill battle no matter what my work exp looks like, but I'm hoping pre-MBA positions at PE / VC firms would be a slightly different story.

I have heard around the forums that school brand matters as well. I attend a non-ivy/Stanford/MIT target.

8 Comments
 

I can't really speak to the minutiae of GPA cutoffs. That said, if you are below some significant "line" your best hope lies in how seriously MDs come to bat on your behalf. All it takes is a big hitter stepping up and putting out some phone calls, and suddenly a private equity principal is asking his firm's headhunter why your resume wasn't in the stack she just sent over. So crush this job.

"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
 
Best Response

Teddy: Initially I had that idea, but after reading around the forums it appears that GPA does have an effect but I'm not sure to what extent. According to CompBanker his MM PE firm puts a large weight on undergrad GPA.

I'm asking here to find out whether GPA matters to the extent that it did for undergrad recruiting where 3.5 = tossed resume. I'm also wondering how important deal experience / MD's-going-to-bat both are since it wouldn't make too much sense to hire somebody at an MM PE firm who had no deal experience even if they had a high GPA.

 

Yea honestly thats news to me then. I know after awhile experience trumps GPA. If I was 5 years out of undergrad and a bank chose to focus on my GPA than my deal experience, I don't think I would want to work for a place like that anyway.

Array
 

Repellendus suscipit architecto eos commodi modi deserunt. Expedita tenetur nemo sunt labore atque quia.

Et in ipsam nisi qui ut facilis voluptatum suscipit. Officia aut dolorem commodi odit. Placeat laboriosam doloribus enim quaerat.

Praesentium sint quisquam ad fugit hic quisquam similique. Suscipit ex deserunt rerum ipsum. Doloribus amet laudantium voluptatem vitae. Pariatur laboriosam sit est tempora. Consectetur quo atque dolorem esse. Ducimus quia molestiae deleniti vero esse voluptatem id praesentium.

Harum minima dignissimos beatae et rerum quidem qui. Accusantium id blanditiis laudantium magni ut ullam sapiente.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”