Not graduating from a Master's program...
Ok - here is my dilemma. After working for a few years in my chosen profession (not finance), I decided to go to graduate school to get a Masters (at a very good school). It wasn't B-school, in fact it was a degree program that has carries with it very poor post grad income prospects. Anyway, I was doing great - until the last day of finals, of my last semester, of my last year. Not making excuses, but I got the flu really bad and just bombed one of my finals (it made up like 60% of my final grade). The professor gave me a final course grade of a D instead of a C- (which I needed to graduate) despite heavy heavy petitioning and pleading for any type of redo or makeup work. Bottom line, I was officially unable to graduate from this program.
I am currently thinking of applying to a job with a very well known financial company. The job is not in banking or anything, but it does deal with loans/transactions. The job requirements only list having a Bachelors degree + 2 yrs of work experience (I exceed those requirements). From everything I've read their background checks are very extensive, and I know this will come up.
Should I explain the MA degree program situation on the cover letter? Or do I just put it on the application and hope I'm not instantly rejected? I'm going to eventually retake the course I need to graduate, but is this going ruin any job prospects in the meantime?
Put your expected graduation date and if it comes up then explain. You might just slip through the cracks. Honestly, outside of MBB, CIA, and top3 Lawschool, you'd be surprised out how shoddy background checks can be sometimes. Then just get good at your job and no one will care what your grades were.
Aside from trying to be sneaky, I have no other advice, that's how I roll.
Shoddy background checks, even at places like Citi or Wells Fargo?
What would be your strategy if you were in my shoes?
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