Explaining Low GPA during Interviews
Hello,
I've never posted on this site but I've been e-lurking for a while. Anways, I've started preparing for the upcoming recruting season and I'd like to land an internship with a top BB bank or consulting firm. But my biggest worry is discussing my gpa during interviews (think between 3.0-3.3), I do have a solid reason behind my low gpa but I do not want to sound like I'm giving the recruiters a sob story.
Long story short....I had MAJOR surgery in my last few months of high school--the surgery I had is very unsual for someone of my age-- and into my first semester of college I had a nasty fall on black ice (my campus is eco-friendly and doesn't salt the snow) and was hospitalized for two weeks. The campus health center insisted I go to a nearby hospital to make sure that my fall did not impact the surgical procedure I had only months before. I missed lectures and labs resulting in my terrible grade. Mind you this is the ONLY bad grade I have on my transcript but because my school operates on the 1-credit per course system it has been very difficult to recover GPA-wise. How do I get this across to recruiters in the best and most positive way possible? Will my gpa reflect badly on my applications? Is it possible to use this story to my advantage?
To make up for my GPA I've had significant positions in several clubs/organizations on campus, I work in the Office of Advancement/Donor Programs as a workstudy student.
Any positive advice/comments would be appreciated!
"my campus is eco-friendly and doesn't salt the snow" - that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You can legitly sue the school for causing you that injury.
At certain universities, re-taking a course will replace the previous grade. The danger, of course, is you getting a lower grade than before. Ask your registrar about it.
My alma mater had "freshman forgiveness" where you retake courses from your freshman year; the grade is replaced and your transcript doesn't show that you've retaken it. Best Policy Ever.
You don't know how many times I've heard I was in the hospital so that's why I have a low gpa as an excuse during an interview. You didn't bother to talk to your professor or dean to remedy your situation at the time? I find it hard to believe they couldn't find some solution to your problem. It sucks but if you do get an interview be prepared for your interviewers to be skeptical because they have heard this before.
Well I'm trying not to use it as an excuse. First semester was pretty rough...recovering from hip surgery/hip replacement and then being hospitalized again several months later took a huge toll on me academically. But I do not want that to be a reflection of my capabilities or work ethic.
Well I'm trying not to use it as an excuse. First semester was pretty rough...recovering from hip surgery/hip replacement and then being hospitalized again several months later took a huge toll on me academically. But I do not want that to be a reflection of my capabilities or work ethic.
Focus on MM's would be my advice.
Thanks, any specific ones you have in mind?
Dude I had Bone cancer for 6 months and had 8 surgeries and still got a 3.5 GPA but still. The key is to work that shit out with the teacher they would definitely understand, but honestly I'm sure if you are honest about the GPA and don't make it sound like a dumb excuse then they will understand. My dad got a 3.7 GPA freshman year in college and then second semester got a 2.3. Somebody tried to blame him for cheating and the guy that blamed him looked like a huge dick because my dad got a 2.3 lol. What a fucking loser. My dad had mono that second semester and felt so sick he couldn't study properly and fell asleep mid exam a few times. He then got all a's and only one or two b's for the rest of his career and got into med school. He told me that every place he interviewed they asked about his 2.3 freshman year. He explained it to them and they totally understood. So just keep that in mind. Theres nothing you can do about it and it's behind you. Work hard buddy
I would suggest having 2 GPAs on your resume. One for the overall and one for the overall minus the bad semester. This might lead to a conversation during an interview and then you can be honest about it.
Spoken like a true banker
Helpful comments , Coincidentally , if someone was looking for a Baldwin Wallace University Freshman Forgiveness Application Form , my colleagues found a template form here "http://pdf.ac/44hhed".
How to explain this GPA trend in interviews? (Originally Posted: 04/12/2011)
My gpa has had a really inconsistent trend of 3.7 in freshman year, 2.8 in sophomore, and 3.9+ in my junior year (current year). My cumulative should be ~3.5 after this year ends. I want to know the best way to approach discussing the "trend" in my interviews, there is no "legit" reason for my sophomore year.
Say you got too complacent, but realized as a junior that shit is real. Its sorta of hard to explain roller coaster trends.
Do you mind sharing your reason?
Just list your cumulative. No reason to list all 3 years separately. After all, all they care is about the 3.5+ (generally)
^^This, if they don't see your transcript...
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