I am a mathematics major at a top 80 US News school. I currently have a 3.1 GPA and i will try and bring it up to a 3.3 by the time i graduate. How bad does this look for ibanking and b schools? Thanks for any response and help.
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For B school, it will definitely be a weak point (at the current level) and you will want to touch on it in your optional essay - a strong GMAT can definitely help offset the poor GPA, however.
For Banking, a 3.1 will knock you out of the running for banks that have cutoffs of 3.2 or 3.3, but if you can get your GPA up to a 3.3, you wont be under the minimum GPA requirement for any banks, and can focus on really developing the rest of your resume to help you stand out and separate your candidacy from a poor GPA. Math majors are known for GPAs on the lower side of the spectrum, but a 3.1 will still definitely hurt your chances. Your best bet will be to get your GPA up to at least a 3.3, network and develop the rest of your resume including work experience and extra curricular activities and organizational involvement. Check this article out of GPAs and other tips: http://www.bankonbanking.com/2009/09/20/rounding-your-gpa-and-other-gpa…
If you have any other questions, just let me know.
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So basically you are math major with 3.1 at complete 100% non-target....
Good luck, you'll need A LOT of it.
ditto....3.8 double math & econ major (top-30 US News) here w/ previous S&T experience, and I can't find jack....Good luck buddy
3.4 Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, top 15 engineering undergrad (US News). Nothing right now.
Damn...
Its a very tough road ahead...your GPA and school combo probably couldn't get you anywhere close to the industry. Your competing with people who have top GPA's from top schools and there are plenty to fill the spots. In most cases its pretty damn near impossible to break in. However, I wouldn't let this stop you. All this means is that you somehow have to outdo everyone else and work literally 10-20X harder than everyone else vying for the positions. Working with my MD's, VP's etc over the summer, I realize these people can very easily be gotten to with the right attitude, proof that you are capable, and a shit load of hard work. I wouldn't all of a sudden start reaching out to people in the industry without knowing jackshit about finance or banking and only having to offer the fact that you want to be a banker, so first I would master this (may even want to consider taking CFA just to get the raw finance skills down) and be able to do LBO, DCF and merger models in your sleep. Then I would be agressive as hell and prove to these people that you've fucked up in your studies, your a late bloomer etc, but you know your capable and you want to be there... if you do this, I don't see why you can't get in. But you need to realize how bad your profile is compared to everyone elses. You go to one of the shittiest schools in the country (top 80 doesn't mean anything), and you are an average student there,while average students at Wharton have a hard time breaking into banking, so realize how fucked you are and let that be an incentive of how hard you have to work... remember also that banking isn't the only job in the world
True true true that. This is a horrible market and getting a job isn't easy. Shit ton of friends at my school (Ivy) with outstanding experiences (one with GS SA position) that are currently offerless. Getting into banking with your background (GPA) would be exetremely tight but hard work and genuine interest in finance can make up for your past failures.
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I feel exactly the same as mergerarb15: recognize your chances are slim, work your ass off, and remember banking isn't the only job in the world. I would suggest taking the GMAT if you think you can do well.
Btw, I'm a math/finance major, non-target, 3.3 GPA. I didn't get a SA position at a bank last summer but I interned at a VC fund instead.
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