Average GPA for top firms?

3.95+ for PE/HF 3.8+ for Top 10/elite boutique/MBB 3.7+ for Top middle market (cowen, hlhz) 3.5+ for boutiques

(for non-targets. for target might be slightly lower)

i would say 3.7 is the average.

also remember - correlation is not causation. On average, the kids with better grades also have better internships and are more motivated, so if you had the same quality of experience, same work ethic, same leadership positions as an average 3.9 even though you have a 3.3 you're not looking too bad

eagle29, that is a bit exaggerated, esp for S&T...I would say 3.3-3.5+ at a target and 3.7+ for a non-target school.

I have a few resume books from last summer that I gathered this info from. GPA is not the only thing evaluated, many people on this forum seem to think that not having a 3.8+ is the be all end all...it certainly is not

Note: I am referring to partcularly S&T, I am pretty sure the ranges are a bit higher for IBD

im sure evercore, greenhill average GPAs are at least 3.9, with 3.8s being the low end

ok? This is the trading train forum, therefore the GPAs for Evercore and Greenhill are irrelevant

izjunirxi - my mistake didn't see that before

Those GPA ranges are all way too high. I know several people in the 3.2-3.6 range. And yes, even at the top firms.

dontmakemeshort -those are for banking, not S&T - sorry i didnt notice the S&T at the top. i think banking has higher GPAs because it emphasizes it more. also those are average numbers, not minimum numbers, so 50% at MBB might have lower than 3.8, etc

avg is my firm is 3.3-3.6 but from all majors

in general, not as high as you think (in S&T).

but their resumes usually have experiences that show they are extremely interested in the market.

S&T gpa's can vary from 3.0 to X. It really doesn't matter as much, like untilted says.

Banking is where GPA, experience, networking, etc all plays a bigger part.

I think whatever the average might be, it is going to be pretty high. You will always have someone in banking with a pretty low GPA, but they will be offset by 4.0's, etc. My gut says the average GPA is around a 3.7~.

Average GPA for Piper Jaffray ops is 3.1 (non-target b/c they recruit from those exclusively).

Does that answer your question?

There is no cutoff GPA.

However, to play it safe, a GPA over 3.5+ will be competitive wherever you go to school.

What? So SirBank if I go to a target do I have a chance of getting into PJC??????

My friends at my Ivy with 3.6+ don't get interviews with prior IB/HF experience; it seems minimum for interview is 3.8, average is around there too because interview skills are key after that. seriously, i know ill get flamed but at least from my experience GPA is THE most important thing on your resume, and you need it to be as high as possible for any BB and even for many MM firms (Jefferies, etc seemed to have cutoffs off 3.7 or so), barring varsity athlete

And out of the non-athletes top firms (any BB) took, they all had around 3.9s, athletes around 3.75

This is stupid. Kids with all kinds of GPAs get great jobs. While GPA certainly helps you get your foot in the door, what's more important is your experience, your personality, finance knowledge, and your ability to convey your strengths and qualities in an interview.

If you really want a reference point, I have a friend who worked for one of the "elite" boutiques mentioned in this thread, who had a 3.6, came from a non-target, and just recently accepted an offer for one of the largest and most prestigious hedge funds in the world (think Greenwich, CT). In contrast to the first poster, he did not have a 3.95 GPA.

there are always counterexamples for every rule; but the rule of thumb, at least for my ivy is 3.8+ for MS/GS/JP 3.7+ for boutique ibanks / MMs. just because someone won the lottery doesnt make it normal