I realize there's about a million GPA threads, but I was hoping to get some advice pertaining specifically to my situation. To put it bluntly, my GPA is absolute shit. My freshman year GPA was 3.4, but I transferred to a more difficult school, took a more difficult major and in the two years I've been there it's like 2.8. I have been combining the two multiplied by credits taken at the two schools to get a 3.0 which is what I have on my resume.
Now the good: This past summer I was a summer analyst at a West Coast MM IB and I already have two lower MM PE internships under my belt. I also am in a finance club and have had a good leadership position in my fraternity. I've also worked on campus the past two years.
My question is this: What would you guys highlight if you were in my shoes? I've studied the shit out of technicals, I know my story and deals I've worked on like the back of my hand, and I know that my fit answers are very good. What are some ways I can counter my shit GPA? I knew going into my summer internship I couldn't get a return offer but everyone there is going to bat for me. I'm leveraging their connections to get some interviews but it's such a numbers game that I want to talk to the most people possible to maximize my interviewing opportunities.
Possible counters to why my GPA is so bad include how active I was on campus and the fact that 3 different firms have been willing to take a chance on me and have been rewarded, I've known I want banking since freshman year of college, and I'm wiling to give them 2 years of my life during which I will do everything they ask of me yada yada yada. One thought I had was saying that if it's down to me and a kid from HYPS/Wharton, I'm just as competent because of my previous experience. If they think they would rather hangout with him till 2 am everyday, pick him. However, if they would rather hangout with me, they should pick me. Everyone I've spoken with has told me I'm extremely personable so I obviously have that working for me. Still not sure on this approach though.
What are your thoughts on this? Sorry for the long post, but I appreciate all the help I can get. Thank you so much in advance.
what do you want to do ? If you want a BB FT offer it's gonna be hard but you can try by networking for interviews and then making a good impression. When I'm saying this I'm assuming the school you transfered to is a target
Specifically, I'm asking if I'm addressing my GPA issue in the correct manner.
Some firms are going to be a dickhead and not want to talk to you because of your GPA. There's nothing you can do about that. But you have a lot better work experience than most higher scoring applicants. I think you my be over-explaining your GPA. If you say something bold about it, it sticks in the interviewer's head. I think you want to quickly address it and move on to any other aspect of your candidacy, all of which are very strong. Take the question seriously, don't be dismissive, but if you are just concise and straightforward then the entire "GPA issue" could be a two or three sentence exchange between you and the interviewer that is quickly forgotten. They already know you have a low GPA and are interviewing you, so you know for sure it is not a deal-breaker for them and they are definitely considering hiring you. As to how to address it I would state that: You didn't shy away from difficult courses due to your genuine intellectual curiosity. You spent significant time on your extra curriculars which include two prominent leadership positions. You also focused strongly on recruitment and networking, as evidenced by landing solid internships after your freshmen and sophomore years, that most students would be happy to get after their junior year.
Good luck.
Great advice, thanks a lot man. +1
The most logical thing to do is to get someone from one of your 3 internships to pick up the phone on your behalf and vouch for you. This is an incredibly small and incestuous industry that is much like a carousel as people hop from place to place so you generally cross paths with a lot of the same people over the years. If you really did as well as you claim I would guess that at least 1 or 2 people would be willing to put in a good word for you. Also, why not just try to get return offers from the places you already worked?
I would second the above post. I graduated with a 3.0 and managed to land 2 superdays with top investment banks (had interned at one) - although I didn't get an offer and went with a boutique PE firm.
My superiors from previous internships were strongly supportive, regardless of whether I was applying to their firm. They were the ones who referred me to the second investment banking interview and also went to the bat for me during the PE interview. They currently bring a good number of deals to my current firm through me which also puts me in a pretty good light with my bosses.
GPA doesn't mean as much as you'd think especially if you network and get someone to like you. I'd look at GPA as more of a screening tool for the hundreds of resumes that come through the pipeline from resume drops. It's an easy filter to use to cut 50+ resumes down to 40 or so that the analyst / associates will then screen.
If you have no personality and a crappy GPA that will be a tough sell.
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