Consulting firms for a sub-3.5 GPA student?
**Assume the economy isn't doing this badly.
So I should have around a 3.35 by the time I'm applying for jobs. Are there any firms out there that won't reject my application automatically due to the low GPA? If such firm exists, how would it be viewed during MBA admissions?
BTW I'm at a very solid target.
Thanks.
This honestly could be a tough call. You may try getting interviews through your school's and personal network, but I doubt that a low GPA (I'm not from the US so do confirm that 3.4 is indeed low!) will get you interviews in 'good firms' without some little air cover by somebody on the inside.
There definitely will be 'consulting' firms (reads: non-strategy IT stuff) that will take you, but such job experience will not help you in your applications for top MBAs, and may in fact be detrimental. If you find you cannot get into strategy consulting now, do corporate development kind of jobs and switch to consulting, be it pre or post MBA. Also, I have a friend who did marketing in a top firm (think Unilever etc) who then switched to MBB.
Two additional thoughts:
What is your major? Economic/litigation consulting firms will likely still look at you if you have a very strong quantitative background (equiv. of a math minor, at the least) and/or research experience (senior thesis or something).
Well I'm not applying for another two years, so hopefully it will be better by then.
And the gpa is low because I went to a bad high school that didn't prepare students for top schools. Though it seems like a generic excuse, it's the truth. I'm doing much better now (getting straight A's), but the damage from freshman year will always be there.
Political science and history...
What would be my chances at MBB with a 3.4 and great ec's?
Thanks for all the replies by the way. I appreciate the honesty :)
Maybe you could break out Sophomore/Junior GPA separately on your resume. Or include your GPA in your major? If either of those are significantly higher than 3.5, that could help you out a lot.
Just tell firms that you went to a bad high school, that's why your undergrad GPA is low - I'm sure they will understand.
Omnis blanditiis ut eum alias quis enim ut porro. Ea error nemo nobis totam laborum. Et ut aperiam a at eaque repellendus.
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