Low GPA in First-Semester Masters

I recently got back my final grades for this semester and I found out have a 3.1. It's my first semester as a Masters student and I'm at an Ivy school. I had a very rough semester and stretched myself way too thin. Essentially, I think I messed up my chances to get a good consulting job once I start applying this coming August. I believe I have everything else good to go otherwise. This semester, I've joined 2 consulting clubs, currently started my own start-up, and am networking decently. In Undergrad, I had a 3.8 GPA, and a batch of a great extracurriculars, including working in 2 research labs, as an intern for a healthcare startup, and successfully starting my own student organization. The issue is that school is beyond non-target, it's not even on the map.

All this rambling is me really just trying to ask if magically get a 4.0 next semester and end up with a 3.55 for my first year, do I still have a chance for a good consulting job? Could the same be said even if I get a 3.4 or a 3.3 after all this? Would appreciate some insight in the matter, good or bad. Just give it to me straight.

9 Comments
 

You're in an Ivy MBA program? Do they even bring up GPA in recruiting? I thought it wasn't that big of an issue if you get into a top program.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
"[email protected]" once in a while I get a grubbing MBA student, and I think, here's a nincompoop who didn't read the label where it says your grades aren't reported to recruiting employers.

^ teacher at Wharton

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Doesn't it depend which IVY? Only Harvard, Penn, and Columbia are in M7. If he's at one of those schools, my guess is there are no worries. If he isn't at an M7 program, he might be fucked--in which case he could consider retaking a few courses...

thots & prayers
 
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"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee

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