GPA Still Matters

Just got dinged from a respected REPE firm for an experienced hire position after 3 pretty strong interviews because the recruiter realized I hadn't put my GPA on the resume and asked for it. 4 Years of RE brokerage/acquisitions experience and early promotion along the way, but I was no longer a strong enough candidate to even make it to the modelling round...

Just a heads up as I've often read advice on here to take the GPA off after the first couple positions, but I would have preferred getting screened rather than wasting both my and the firm's time. 

30 Comments
 

When I was studying engineering, the mantra was always 3.0 and above is cool. I went to a fairly good school although non-target. Absolutely horrified when I started looking for jobs in finance.

 

Yo a 3.22 is not bad for chemical engineering, I think a 3.3 is average and if you double majored in applied math as well you should be chilling. I also had a less than competitive gpa but I came from a physics major and got first rounds at most of the places I applied to

 

Same happened to me after about 3 years of exp + promotion at my first job out of college. Made it through 3 rounds of interviews (totaling ~10 professionals + CIO) and a modeling test at a top 20 REPE firm. Before the offer, they asked for my transcripts and didn't hear from them again.

It's an awful mindset some of these folks in finance have, but don't get down. There's many of shops just as/nearly as good that actually care about the quality of work you WILL produce rather than what you DID produce.

 

They were the only ones that asked for it in the interview.  Some/most ask for it on the application though.  Doubt it matters to most banks.

 

This post surprises me, OP where you literally told you failed to make the cut to next round because of GPA? Usually its just for screening purposes (like literally part of what determines if you get a human to even look at your resume). So, seeing it being factored after 3 interviews just seems crazy. 

Is it possible they didn't select you to move forward independently of the recruiter asking for the GPA detail? I don't want to spin you circles thinking about this, but lot's of reasons could explain it, and it might just be coincidence with timing of the GPA question. Pretty fucked up otherwise (IMHO). 

 

I've heard of the top/MF groups etc, dinging for this... even after 5-7+ years of experience. Pretty pointless... definitely just for prestige, dick measuring, etc.

Had a colleague go from a direct competitor/"top fund" to interview at similar one and think he go dinged on GPA (granted it was very poor - sub 3). But effectively - a lateral from a Starwood, BX, Carlyle to that of the same and getting cut with exactly the same experience 4+ years. It is an auto cut for some. 

 

I didn't even have GPA on my resume and was never asked once my UG GPA. Landed at a pretty decent lending shop right out of UG. I also had interview at some other very reputable shops and a REIB position (made it to last round). I know this is REPE we are talking about but this still is surprising people care that much especially after years of experience. 

 

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