Networked my way to MBB Interview, now I'm worried...

I'm a senior at a good (decent), non-target school and have competitive work experiences. I was lucky enough to network my way into an MBB through a close tie with a partner there. I now have a 1st round case interview coming up. I have an incredibly low GPA (like so abysmal I can't even list it on WSO, it's a miracle I even had my resume passed by the partner at the MBB). I'm worried that although I made it to the 1st round of the interview process that I may be cut from consideration because of it. Assuming that my resume is top notch, I have good behavioral interviewing skills, my case interview goes well, and have legitimate reasons for my terrible GPA will it matter that it's too low?

 

From my understanding, once you get the interview, it's all about how you perform in the cases/behavioral. They may ask about your GPA, but I have serious doubts it will be the determining factor in deciding whether to move your application on in the process. If it were, they would've done so in the résumé screening process.

 

They might not even mention your GPA during the interview. The GPA is important during the resume screening process.

You just need to prepare a short answer to explain it. (eg. you were very active in the student life of your school.. bla..bla..) Make it short so you can move to the next question but prepare something.

 

Completely agree that GPA is less of a factor at this point in the process. However, one caveat: there is a population of candidates that get first-round interviews simply due to their connections to powerful partners at the given firm. Make sure that you rock the interview and avoid the fate of the majority of these partner-suggested candidates.

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