Top EB/BB with a 3.5-3.6?

Anyone here work at an EB/BB that has experience on the recruiting side that could should share some insight? Do you guys still consider 3.5-3.6 candidates from semi-targets/low targets that are involved on campus and have relevant internships? Or is there simply too many 3.8+ students coming from the top targets (Wharton, Ross, HYP, Stern, etc)?

Would appreciate any insight into how you screen resumes- or if a sub 3.8 is an auto-ding (even with networking).

21 Comments
 

At an EB. For top targets, I don’t really look at GPA unless it’s below a 3.5, and there’s plenty with 3.6s (non div). For non targets, I’ve never seen someone get in the process below a 3.7, and almost all who get offers have a 3.8+ and referrals

It’s definitely possible, but you’re going to need some strong connections and need to ensure you nail every interview, behaviorally and technically, which is easier said than done

 

Was it because of the gpa, or was their experience just lower than all the 3.8/3.9s? Or a combination of both?

 

Don’t think COVID matters as much with GPA. These are also kids with 1550+ SAT and might even be an athlete. 
 

experience wise sophomores are sophomores. They all look kind of same on paper and tbh super no name boutique internship doesn’t make up for 0.4 gap in GPA to me. Someone hardworking / smart / dedicated can get over the 8 week internship experience quickly. 

 
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I've been getting a ton of coffee chats recently, sometimes 10 a day, and I would say that GPA's at least for the sophomore class have been absolutely bewildering high. Never have I ever seen such a concentration of 3.8, 3.9, 4.0 GPAs. I think most people have realized that GPAs due to zoom university and the invention of the Google search has made this number irrelevant until classes are back in person and you can't google exam questions or message your friends during tests. That said, if you have a lower GPA, don't lose hope just yet. I know that at my bank, we don't really have a hard filter but the soft cutoff is probably somewhere around a 3.3-3.5. You just need to put in extra effort on your networking and other aspects of your resume that you can control. If the question comes up and someone asks why your GPA is low, maybe have something general like "it took you a longer time to adjust to remote learning than your peers" or something like that.

 

What kind of firm are you at? If you feel comfortable sharing any details 

 

Is it a little more lenient for FT if you have a solid bank from SA? I got hella SA interviews at so many MMs and even one of those small top boutiques no networking but none at EBs even with some referrals and only 1 mid BB, again through referrals, though I did have a lot of networking at another BB but the timeline didn't work out for me. 

 

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