GPAs for Internships

I'm a sophomore business major at a target ivy and I just applied to a few sophomore internships that ask for my transcript. My cum gpa is a 3.49 and my major gpa is 3.76 but the interesting part is how I got there. I had some trouble figuring things out first semester of my freshman year and took too many credits so I only managed a 2.8. Since then though I managed a 3.85 and 3.95 overall. Is my first semester going to hurt me assuming everything else is strong?

 
Best Response

Damn, I hate it when people do that to themselves in their freshman years. I knew so many people who screwed themselves that way, and it took them the rest of their college careers to make up for it.

First, see if you can get any of that expunged from your record (any "Withdraw: Failure"s turned into a "Withdraw: Incomplete" for a few semesters or something). I know they won't let you graduate with WIs on your record, but it's not your graduating GPA that goes on your resume in the fall of your senior year, now is it?

Second, do try to talk to whomever will be looking at your transcript (I know it can be tough to find out who that is). Be friendly, talk yourself up a bit, and explain the situation bluntly.

Third: Don't sweat it too much. You're a sophomore business major at a target ivy and neither your cumulative nor your major GPA sucks hard. (It sucks just a little bit, but GPA is not as critical in the ivy league soph year anyway.) You may not get a BB investment banking internship this summer, because only the insanely well-qualified or well-connected people get those in their sophomore summers. If that's the case, work for another division of a bulge bracket, or in investment banking for a middle market, or in a regional office somewhere. Try wealth management at Goldman in NYC or in the regionals, investment banking at Bank of America or Wachovia, or a boutique somewhere. Let your school name open doors for you. And be glad that your problem is WAY easier to solve than that of someone from a non-target.

Oh, and get that GPA up! A couple of tenths would do you, but higher is ALWAYS better.

 

Tempora aut repellat aut inventore dolor. Autem enim cum facere ad dolorum.

Ratione praesentium et dolorem aut cupiditate est qui. Non vero soluta illum et voluptatum illo quam. Quia et quia deserunt praesentium. Voluptas officia culpa libero quod voluptas. Nihil odit ut tenetur vel. Dolores necessitatibus corporis est sed velit.

Et et non et corporis quibusdam inventore. Consequatur asperiores eum aliquam. Qui ipsam quibusdam numquam quas natus. Laudantium voluptas itaque est pariatur. Velit et mollitia nesciunt est sit.

Fuga error quod natus voluptate vitae amet. Tempora illum voluptatem ipsum doloremque. Officia optio facilis veritatis non ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”