Hi WSO,
Will attempt to keep this incredibly brief...
Graduated high-school with very average grades. Top 70 percentile, nothing worthy of a scholarship or any form of awards.
Went to a non-target, got mostly 60s and some 70s. Family trauma unfolded, notably siblings and mental health / suicide attempts. (Note: I never had mental health issues / suicidal tendencies - but obviously affected me). Ended up withdrawing from a semester, failing two units and leaving with a shocking average - 61%
Got accepted to study at a target on the basis of my GPA (which was low GPA). Great target with OCR and plenty of alumni in the industry. Have completed one semester thus far and have really killed it. 3.8 GPA, involved in a IB case competition and so on. Doing all that I can to make my goals a reality.
Problem is, the other day I was told that the BBs will ask for my high-school transcript and my transcript for any previous degree(s) at other institutions. I completed two internships during my time at the non-target (one in corporate advisory and one in corporate restructuring - accounting firm, not Bx or anything).
It seems that most summer analysts are high-school grads with impeccable high-school results and academic scholarships. I unfortunately, am not a natural intellect and have only just 'pulled something out of the hat' - but is it too late for me? Will these banks ask to see my 2 year transcript at the non-target which I discontinued? Will they also ask for my high-school results?
It's really getting me down, thinking that all this recent hard work may not get me over the line, given what has already transpired.
Greatly appreciate any input here.
Nervous bump
Last bump...
I would try to network your way into informational interviews/chats to tell your story to people involved in the hiring process.
The more distance you put between yourself and blights on your resume and the more you demonstrate that those blights are anomalies the less they will matter.
Thanks, the only issue being - my city is more of a shell for the bulge brackets. The real teams and deal flow is in another state. Although that is hopefully where I will end up - it makes getting coffee incredibly difficult (18 hour drive). Will do what I can by setting up phone calls.
Do you think I should leave off my high-school and non-target on my resume? Only thing is it shows two internships in my very first semester of new studies and it opens up to questions concerning dates.
I wouldn't worry about it, just recruit with your new school GPA. Never heard of anyone asking for a highschool transcript, and they may or may not ask for the transcript from your prior school. Either way, you would have likely received an offer or not before sending any transcripts at all. Can't imagine they'd rescind an offer b/c of your grades at prior school. On the off chance it becomes an issue, sounds like you have a reasonable explanation for it.
Thanks, I was hoping this was the case. As far as I am aware, BAML, CS, GS and JPM ask for high-school transcripts to be submitted when applying online - as to whether or not they actually review it. Well I hope not...
(Will SB when I get more WSO credits)
I had superdays with two of the four listed and they didn't ask for high school transcripts, but asked for standardized testing scores and GPAs. Neither were too hot for me, but still made it to the superdays. So I wouldn't sweat it.
Not sure why somebody wasted 3 credits in order to fling MS at me...
Reason I came to this forum is because of the limited people I could personally ask - I received very conflicting viewpoints. Some said that these firms are only interested in naturally consistent high-achievers and that my fate is pre-determined. Others have said that it doesn't matter at all and only my new transcript will come into consideration.
random question, but how'd you get into a target w mediocre hs + 60s-70s in first couple years of undergrad? im impressed
Yeah, it's a bit odd. Seeing as I was already studying a degree, all they really wanted was a 3.0/4 which I exceeded. The entry requirements, post-school are much higher.
....?
Haha I know, it's super low but that's the minimum GPA they want from my previous school (semi-target). You can't have a 3.0/4 at any school and get in.
Pretty low considering the OCR and so forth, but yeah...
Really...? a 2.5 gets you in...what was your previous school and whats the new one? Give a group of similar schools if you care about anonymity
They looked at everything when considering me, my resume too which included some boutique internships. I believe the admission is based on a points system. My internships and extracurricular involvements (committee of largest finance society, involvement with micro-strategy charity) and all that would've been what got me over the line.
I'm in Australia but both schools are exchange partners with a bunch of US schools. Unsure if it's indicative of anything, but here goes...
In terms of the non-target, think of schools like Virginia Commonwealth University and basically any public university with admission numbers sitting around 50%. Not throwing shade at anybody, it's the first school that comes to mind.
The target however, has exchange partnership with LSE, UCLA and so forth. But not Harvard, Yale or Wharton. My new target is considered a 'Top 10 Business School' within my country. It regularly places top graduates into the BBs.
Hope that helps.
No advice to contribute, just wanted to say that I've had very similar stuff going on with my family during college and I know how tough it is. Good luck!
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