Need Help - College student with some major problems
So long story short, I went into undergrad as a premed. I did this for the wrong reasons, as many do, and was one of the many students who got Cs in the weed out classes (bio, chem, etc). I thought I was interested in medicine, but in reality I was interested in the glamor of it without any real interest or ability to do well in the sciences. I also had no interest in surviving med school. Yes, I know, you don't have to say it.
Anyway, deep down, I kind of always had an interest in consulting as well as other finance related careers. After a lot of thought this year, it is what I'd like to pursue--at least for a few years--after undergrad. I am considering getting an MBA after, or a law degree, likely doing corporate law. I just like business in general.
The problem is, my GPA is absolute trash. One, I attend Cornell university, where the median grade in STEM classes is a B-. Given that I took linear algebra, two semester of gen chem, and a biology class, you can imagine what that means for my GPA. On top of that, I had 2 deaths in my family this school year, and it really affected my ability to perform well. So, my GPA is 2.57. I also got a C in intro to microeconomics because I spent about 10 hours a week studying chemistry and neglected the econ class. But, if I want to be an econ major, I'll have to retake that class. May not be a bad investment in the long run, but anyway. I also got a C in linear algebra, and the other premed classes I took. Really the only decent grades I got were in English and Spanish because I have strong verbal and writing skills.
Now, i am considering a government major, with minors in applied economics and statistics. I would major in econ or stats, but I am worried that those majors, which are kind of difficult at Cornell, would keep my GPA too low for graduate school / employment. I have to get ~3.8 every semester moving forward if I want to be a competitive applicant. I am considering government because at least at Cornell, it involves a lot of writing, and it's something I think I'll enjoy given I've loved those kinds of classes up until now. It seems that 18% of government graduates from Cornell go into consulting, and 15% go into "financial services". However, my fear is that this is legal consulting / paralegal work, which I'm not too interested in. If you're wondering why I don't just major in business, well, the department i'm in at Cornell does not have a business major, so i'd have to go through a strenuous and difficult internal transfer process to a different school that would likely not work out well for me because of my low GPA. If I take the risk and apply out, which would involve taking classes in that department and becoming close with a faculty member, but don't get in, I will be notably behind in my degree. I do believe that Cornell utterly sucks, and I would love to transfer to a more enjoyable school, but again, my GPA is trash. I am basically stuck at the department I'm in, at the university I'm in. Also, most internships on campus require a 3.0 or 3.25 GPA, so i'm worried that I'll risk not raising my GPA up to that by spring time if i don't pick a major with a lot of writing--my strength.
In essence: can I go into consulting for a good company with a government degree and econ + stat minors? Is it incredibly difficult? Do government/poly sci majors get into MBA programs usually? If anyone has any other advice, I'd appreciate it.
** When is say 10 hours a week for chemistry, i mean an additional 10 to the already required 20. i did about 10 hours of tutoring and extra prep. yep still got a C+.
Major is of relatively little importance for consulting recruitment. Plenty of people get in from ivies with humanities majors. Econ + stats minors look good. Your degree won't exclude you from consulting.
In terms of looking at the competitive firms, I have a friend who got in with Deloitte (mind you, tech, no S&O) with like a 3.2 at a worse school, so it's not impossible to get in without a great GPA, but you're really going to need to get to at least a 3.0 to have a shot, and then you're still going to want to get some great referrals.
In terms of 'finance' - if you're referring to like IB, you're probably not going to be particularly competitive for that right now.
If I had to guess, I'd say that the consulting that government major graduates are going into is federal govt consulting at the big4, Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, etc. You're right that it's usually not the most exciting work from what I understand.
If I were you, top priority bar none would be getting a 4.0 every semester, getting some sort of internship after sophomore year, and focusing on what you really want for your junior internship and FT recruiting. I would not worry too much about major choice and I would not be picky with internships - you're going to need something strong to boost your resume.
Thank you so much! This was incredibly helpful. I'm so sorry, what does FT stand for?
Full-time, i.e. a job when you graduate vs an internship.
My general point is to get some sort of easier internships and experiences for now that will help prepare you for your most desired job later, as opposed to focusing a lot of effort on getting what might be an unattainable internship with your present profile. You still have time to build a strong profile and shouldn't be scared away.
You are confused because you don’t seem to have any job experience. No amount of courses or GPA will make you like or dislike a given career or job. All this college stuff is a stupid game.
You have a low GPA and wasted some time in college. Big whoop. So, maybe McKinsey won’t hire you. You sound like you don’t know what you want in a job or career—like 99% of people your age if they’re being honest.
You’ll just have to hit the job market and try different things. Maybe all your ideas about what you like to do (and can do well) are wrong. Maybe you end up hating consulting, and you suck at law, etc. The only way to learn is to flop around in the job market for a few years. No fancy degrees or high GPAs will save you from the School of Hard Knocks.
You have the advantage that you “won” Round 1 by going into a degree and failing. Good, you learned something and removed one delusion from your life. You’re going to be repeating that process about a million times. I suggest you don’t think too hard about majors, courses, GPAs, and how to secretly triple backflip into a dream job tomorrow.
Thank you for your honest response, it is much appreciated.
I assume you just finished freshman year. I was in the same boat, I had around a 2.8 after my freshman year and I was an engineering major at a top public university with a top engineering school( Michigan, GT, Texas, etc). I can tell you I raised that GPA from a 2.8 to a 3.3, and ended up getting a full time offer with Deloitte Consulting for tech and Accenture, and had interviews with BCG and Strategy&. Yes, I didn't get offers from either BCG or Strategy& but ill be the first to admit that my case interview skills were not up to their standards. The key to getting out of your situation is to first relax and accept you messed up. Then figure out your "major" situation, it doesn't matter what you're majoring in but if you're going to do it for the next three years do something you actually like so you can get that 3.8+ every semester. Then get any internship, the key to making up a low GPA is having internship experience and to network. Find internships, yes even if the first one is unpaid take it, then increase your GPA and keep trying for any company that has a bigger name and proceed on ward till you have an even bigger named corporation on your resume. Finally, start networking reach out your alumni at all the big consulting firms, email them and get on phone calls and learn why they like it and ask them for advice on what you can do. Maintain the relationship and keep up with them over the next few years, it'll come back and help you later on I promise. In the end realize, if you keep putting in effort and working hard, it'll work out, probably not on your time line but it will work out. if you have anymore questions feel free to DM
Thank you so much! I would send you a DM, but my account is new and I'm not a paid member so it's not letting me today. I was wondering if companies excuse lower than average GPAs in STEM majors? My worry with going into the humanities is that if my GPA is still below average, that'll look extra bad. At least in something quantitative, they understand getting Bs here and there.
They do, Deloitte did for me. Their GPA cut off on their application said its a 3.4 but I applied with around a 3.2 at that time and I still got the interview. S&, BCG don't have hard cutoffs more like known accepted cut offs but if you have good enough experience and have networked you can find a way to get an interview. Also, Accenture from what I know has no known cut off, I know someone with below a 3.0 humanities major that got their full time offer. I think alot of the GPA cut offs can be eased if you network enough. I know someone personally that got a Mckinsey interview with a 3.2 and humanities degree but he networked for a whole year with them and reach out to more people that I know. Its possible, just you're going to have to put in effort
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