The IB interview low GPA question... oh yeah, ADD/ADHD.
I was diagnosed with severe ADD as a kid - like, REALLY severe, like "here let's put you in a separate desk with blinders in the corner away from all the other kids like some sort of leper" severe - but after a long hard road I powered through the bulk of my disability and got into one of the upper ivies. Now that I'm here though I'm finding that the tests are absolutely designed to hit people like me where it hurts. As a result, I don't test well, and on average 75-80% of my grades are determined by one midterm and one final. Anyway, now I'm sitting on a pretty shitty 3.0 X 3.2 GPA and I'm going into my Junior summer looking for a regional boutique IB internship.
My question is, I'm going to get asked about my low GPA, and the truth is, I'm working as hard as I can here for peanuts-points on exams. I wasn't injured, my mom didn't die, I'm not a startup whiz-kid, I just suck at test taking. On the flip side, what got me here was that I've figured out a way to command the "hyperfocus" aspect of my ADD, and I firmly believe that this "super"-ability combined with my creative way of approaching complex problems (what costs me time on exams) would actually make IB a great fit for me. Is there a way I can convey this in an interview without causing the interviewer to automatically withdraw and assume I'm either A.) full of shit or B.) hiding behind a disability? If not, how can I explain my GPA?
Thanks!
Justified or not, ADD ain't gonna win you any sympathy points, buddy. It's an extremely oversubscribed diagnosis.
If your ADHD is bad enough to wreck your GPA, I would consider it bad enough to hurt your performance at a job that requires sitting at a computer 12+ hours/day
@hankyfootball: Sort of figured that would be the prevailing opinion. It's a shame over-diagnosis makes it more difficult for those of us who actually do struggle with it daily to be seen as legitimate.
@notahipster: next time read the post before you try to answer questions for other people. Your attention to detail is poor - I'd consider that enough to hurt your performance in banking. ADHD has nothing to do with sitting at a computer 12+ hours / day, especially when hyperfocus is involved.
I'm sure your associate would love to hear about how your "hyperfocus" is actually a "super ability" when you can't turn stuff quickly. I actually think the test-banking analogy is good, at least at the junior level: you need to get things done precisely in a high-pressure environment with a time constraint.
have you ever even experienced banking? the tone of your post bugs me. ADHD has a shitload to do with banking. You think running bullshit turns on pitchbooks, you'll be hyperfocused? Don't kid yourself. If your ADHD is that extreme (even on meds), I'd seriously reconsider whether banking is for you.
Hahaha...no sympathy from WSO. Don't try to think of any fancy excuses - especially for the sake of pity points.
Just out of curiosity, what did you score on the SAT? I'm assuming pretty high since you're at an Ivy.
Well I definitely wasn't looking for pity points - I think ADD's (evidently) negative connotation here is more a factor of some WSO users' ignorance of the condition rather than any real disadvantage it would put me at so far banking is concerned. I did well on the SAT, about industry average for banking. That's sort of my point, though - I test extremely well everywhere EXCEPT my current institution for whatever reason, and I'm pretty sure it has to do much more with psychology than ability. I've even taken numerous classes at a couple semi-targets and the lowest I've ever scored on a midterm at those schools was a 92. Hell, if I went to my local state semi-target I'd have a 4.0, easiest fucking classes. (And they get BB recruiting!) But I have this thing against "taking the easy way out," it's the same reason I've refused the extra time I've been offered on tests. Maybe that's my downfall, who knows?
....what did i just read.
Best of luck man.
Vel animi incidunt ex consequatur. Molestiae totam iure eius totam odit perferendis delectus.
Ducimus quia voluptates molestias fuga. Consequatur omnis doloremque in. Sed reiciendis quia explicabo vel odio. Repellat nobis asperiores autem et quis soluta.
Minima et expedita quia aut temporibus et. Magnam maxime excepturi inventore saepe. Est qui sint enim saepe omnis et.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...