GPA for Elite PE / HF Recruiting?
**Ignore my other thread, which I posted in the incorrect forum**
I'm a first year at a top group -- GS TMT/FIG/CRG, MS M&A, BX R&R/M&A -- interested in working at an elite distressed private equity fund or hedge fund. I have begun meeting with headhunters, and now I'm a bit nervous about my GPA.
I graduated from an Ivy with a 3.78 GPA. (Top 15% was 3.81.) Most of the analysts in my group have 3.8+ GPAs, and quite a few have 3.9+ GPAs. Will I get a chance at the elite shops?
I scored a 2360 on my SAT. I am very articulate, and known as one of the better analysts in the group.
Thanks in advance for the advice.
Have heard from multiple alums/analysts that once you're at a 3.7 rounded, it shouldn't hinder you in most processes.
You're screwed.
I don't get why people feel the need to compare themselves to others... if someone told you it was low would you just not try?
I would just quit and go work at Brandywine
Rufio, I recognize that my question sounds foolish, but please understand that the vast majority of the analysts in my group graduated summa cum laude (top 5%) from their Ivies. While I know I'm a qualified candidate and will ultimately end up with a decent job, it's difficult to know if my GPA will hold me back from the jobs I want most.
Thanks, kidflash. I know I still stand a strong shot at very good PE funds and hedge funds, but I'm wondering how the elite distressed shops will evaluate my resume. I'm sure the headhunters with whom I'm speaking know the answer, but I don't want to suggest to them that I'm not confident in my abilities or intelligence.
Since you're interested in distressed shops, I think the barriers to entry will actually be considerably lower than your flagship pe/hf, just take a look at the pedigree of some of these top places in the space
Just round to a 3.8, that will clear the GPA hurdle for 99% of the buyout firms out there, especially if you're already in a top group
Total Percentile: 99.91% wow
Headhunters have informed me that I will have take-home case studies for a number of the funds in which I'm interested, so yes, if I know in advance that my chances are not good, I will not invest as much time in those case studies.
If your chances aren't good why even do them at all?
Instead of spending time worrying about something you have no control over at this point, why don't you prepare for your interviews / case studies so that you can knock them out of the park and overcome your (apparently) subpar GPA?
Pro tip: If you get to the point in which they give you a case study they're actually going to spend time reading / judging you've pretty much made it past the GPA screen.
shut the hell up and go drink
It's completely fine if you round to a 3.8 / you went to an upper-ivy.
3.78?? 3.78s should end up at UBS not at GS/MS . Consider yourself very lucky
Really though? the analysts that have gone to better shops from my BB generally had higher GPAs and better deal experience than the ones that went to just ok ones. As far as I can tell I can't say the former group is smarter...
Just do Handbridge Capital yo
HF/PE and GPA (Originally Posted: 04/13/2011)
Hey guys,
From what I have garnered from this forum and from friends in the industry GPA plays a significant role in PE recruitment. Just how important is GPA? In my case, I had one really bad year in college that pretty much destroyed me; will likely graduate with a GPA in the 3.3-3.4 range (target school). I know there's no formula for these things but is this a significant hinderance for HF/PE recruitment (after an analyst stint at a BB) both in the US and in Asia (HK, SG, Mumbai)?
Thanks in advance guys,
Lewiz
Absolutely not... maybe MBA applications
Bigger firms won't look at you unless you have a 3.6 at the very minimum. The other problem is that headhunters will ding you with a GPA like that since they don't think it's worth putting in front of their clients. If you come from a top group at GS or MS this is ameliorated, but unfortunately GPA matters a lot.
sterling by bigger firms do you mean only the top funds llike KKR/TPG, or do you mean pretty much all the top 50 PE funds like GTCR, Madison Dearborn etc.?
do you think GPA matters as much for PE as it did for IB recruiting?
GPA matters the most for HF recruiting, but to a lesser extent, also matters for PE recruiting. What's more important, however, is the group you're going to and what school you came from. You can get past it with senior guys going to bat for you.
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