GPA for MBB
Hi everyone!
I am a student at one of a target (think Duke) and aiming for MBB. what kind of GPA do I need to be in a good shape for these firms? Is 3.7 okay? I got 3.9+ in freshman year but screwed up last semester: around 3.6.
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no, you're fucked. pick another career...
but seriously, dw lol a 3.7 is still strong
have a competitive gpa/resume/ecs and you'll be fine. dont be another nerd that just has a GPA to bring to an interview with no personality, cool experiences, hobbies or stories. worry about you as a package and not just the GPA
If you are questioning a 3.7 at Duke 1 1/2 years in... You lack confidence.
SMH, kid you have a 3.7 at Duke, you're fine. Stop being a dweeb. Network, continue doing well and you'll be okay.
Now go paint your face and go cheer on your Blue Devils.
have you ever gone through recruiting? if you do you'll know that a 3.7 at duke, or any top 10 school, doesn't mean you'll be set up with a good job, much less MBB (or a top banking firm)
3.7 is like the 50th percentile GPA at brown because of pass/fail, so obviously there are a ton of 3.9ers just from that gunning for positions. 3.7 isn't all that impressive since MBB kids come from every major (read english and sociology) even more so than for banking with less spots and so networking/learning about the industry is key.
To be honest, a 3.7 is actually quite low for MBB and in all likelihood you might not get interviews for all 3. Although WSO seems to be on the "As you as you know your shit, it doesn't matter where you come from, just crush the interview!" dreamland, in reality grades and school matter a ton (70%+ for getting an interview). I know that 3.7 is definitely on the lower end for NY/Boston/SF locations, and having gone to a school at Duke's level most kids with MBB offers had 3.8+ GPAs; 3.6-3.7 kids were either varsity athletes, engineering majors, very accomplished on some other field, great internships (e.g. BB IBD) or a combination of the above. However, if you can definitely try to network with people, talk to alumni and other people in the field, and really impress your interviewers during your case study. You might not get all MBB (or LEK/OW) interview positions, but once you do the other stuff does fade to the background (not as much as you think though!) and you need to rock the case. Good luck!
Strength of GPA is highly dependent on major. That being said, it is only part of the overall picture. A 3.7 is certainly good enough from a GPA-centric standpoint. However, if you don't have strong extracurriculars, internships, leadership, etc. then it probably isn't good enough to get you an interview. Make sure that your overall application is strong and don't worry so much about your GPA.
^ I assume this only applies if you're at a target (leadership/extracurriculars wise having something generic like finance club president, etc) otherwise they prefer a 3.9 and either varsity athlete of a good/relevant team or fullbright scholar (more realistic than rhodes/marshall)
For anyone who doesn't work for MBB: please don't spread false information and guesses to everyone else.
I think the best way to put it is that a 3.7 won't keep you out but it sure as hell won't get you in. To get a postion at MBB you really need to stand out in some key aspect of your application/interview. If that differentiation doesn't come from GPA it can come from personality, work experience, leadership, extracurriculars, but it needs to be there and it needs to be impressive.
I echo what others have already said. Yeah 3.7 won't make them put your resume in the shredder, then again they won't put it in the interview pile. So make the things after stand out: ECs, experience, leadership...
Thank you guys so much! What about the GPA for Deloitte, A.T.Kearney, or Oliver Wyman?
I agree with wso_user. MBB (and consulting in general) are huge GPA-whores. Just look at some of the MBB profiles. Most analysts are 'magna' or 'summa' with a B.A from HYP.
I-banks, on the other hand, seem to grant a bit more of leeway in GPA and look more at people's internships/ experience. But, top consulting firms don't really care as much about the work experience. All they care about are academic credentials and someone's raw intellectual horsepower. (case interviews help determine that)
Lol at this thread. Calm down, it's more than just GPA.
Thank you so much people! Guess I have to work my ass off next semester to get a 3.8...
I don't know why people think they need 3.9s to get an interview at an MBB. You really don't. As Dorsk said, GPA is only a part of the picture, and 3.7 is surely good enough to get you in. I find networking to be much more important, so just keep up the GPA and spend the rest of the time getting tok now people in each of the MBB.
I'd echo the other comments about the holistic approach. I was surprised at who ended up getting interviews and the lack of overlap between all three firms at my school. The ones who did receive all three (I was one of them) all had one thing in common: overall great experiences and high enough GPA (3.8+), but the great experience whether leadership or internships is what pushed them over while people with a high GPA (3.9+) but okay in other areas usually one received one or two---and the same held true for people with 3.7-area that had better experiences. And then I know people with 4.0s that were extremely boring in life and paper that received no interviews.
So really, don't be too uptight about GPA but focus on getting great experiences overall.
Thanks. How do you guys define great experience?
Go save kids in Africa.
Great experiences come in a variety of areas: killer internships (BB i-banking, solid consulting shop, F500 job), just breadth of internships that may all be small but add up (doing a journalism, small hedge fund and something else), and great work on campus and something that you're dedicated to (student government president or some campus-wide elected position, started your own org, a strong consulting organization on campus). At the end of the day again, the ones that got the interview had some passion in something and sought out opportunities to get there; they were simply interesting. Though I will say on the other hand, BBs had a much more cut and dry way of selecting people.
Low GPA + Networking = Chance at MBB? (Originally Posted: 06/30/2014)
I am also considering lower tier consulting firms and IBD/S&T positions as a rising junior. I attend a top 20ish school as an economics major, have strong contacts with a variety of top companies through diversity networking events/programs, but a GPA
There is a decent chance you can pull it off. I did some other things between college and getting into a full blown finance centered company. Things like working in the financial department of a large marketing company (think; financial analyst, credit analyst) and then started learning everything I could to show initiative. My GPA was beyond horrible, but now that there are a good number of working years between my graduation date and my job application it does not seem to be such a big deal. The job I currently have didn't even ask for my GPA, work experience becomes much more important not too long after the cap & gown are hung in your closet. I think your network and contacts, if they will act as references with knowledge of your abilities will be enough if you get in front of the right interviewer or HR person. Also, showing multiple permotions while at one place speaks for itself that you are worth considering.
Thanks for the feedback. Just to be clear. My hope is to apply to the Summer Business Analyst position this fall/winter. Would really love to apply to some international offices, not sure how difficult that process would be as a US citizen. Any one else have any comments about my chances?
With a 3.3, highly unlikely that you'll get an interview. It sounds like you're a diversity candidate, though, so that might change things a little bit (if a specific diversity network is pushing for you).
It's definitely a good sign that you're invited to a networking event, but some events are super selective while others aren't. If it's a diversity network event, anything goes so I wouldn't take it as a sign of anything.
GPA and MBB (Originally Posted: 01/07/2015)
I attend a semi target. I am a female econ major and fluent in 3 languages (half African/Latino ). Anyways I have a low GPA (internships). I would like to send my resume to him, however I'm debating on whether I should leave my GPA or not. I'm afraid it might get me dinged and I know MBBs have strict requirements. If this guy does forward my resume to recruiting do you guy think I shoujd leave it on or not. Could I get away with listing just my major GPA? How helpful would it be to get it forwarded to recruiting? Any help would be great. I would love to break into consulting.
Definitely don't put on a 3.2
Have you already explained to your contact about your GPA? If not, there might be some risk if he sees it and then automatically disregards you - not he might think you're a highly qualified candidate from your conversation with him and might submit it.
I've heard of people only listing their major GPA and not getting too rough of questions or not even being noticed at all, but as a caveat, it might automatically convey that your actual school GPA isn't strong. I've never heard of a person at a 3.2 getting an MBB internship, as these are more competitive than full-time, but that's just my observation.
If you don't put it, they're just going to ask for it, or worse just reject you without asking. Not putting a GPA is universal code for "My GPA sucks".
I'd put the major GPA, but be aware that they are still going to ask later. In addition, you'll be providing your transcript at some point. Id get your explanation ready, but put the major GPA to maximize your shot of getting a chance to use it.
Should I only list Major GPA or include cumulative, too. The online application portal specifically asks for cumulative. Could I place my major GPA in that field, as well? This whole process has been extremely exhausting. It just sucks that I can't really explain my medical situation to recruiters without being taken out of the running..
Other advice?
What can't you explain your medical problem?
Would it hurt to talk to your contact again and express concern over your GPA? Better shot that he'd understand your story, still think you're a great candidate, and directly submit your resume for 1st rounds knowing otherwise it wouldnt make the first cut, than lying or taking a chance that some random person will stop for a minute to try to give you the benefit of the doubt when he/she has 100 other resumes to look at.
I met my contact through a recruiting event at the MBB firm. And I have conducted two informational interviews with him. I really don't feel comfortable revealing my disability/illness although it is documented by my hospital and college and when I applied through the MBB recruiting event through my school (very selective) I did mention my illness. I'm still worried about being deemed unfit because of it. Should I shoot off an email to him about my situation? I don't want to take to much of his time with another call.
Just mention that you had a severe medical condition which impacted your GPA fresh/soph years and leave it at that. Is your Junior year GPA trending better?
My freshman year GPA was abysmal, but I was able to hold an upward trend my sophomore-junior year.
Send him an email and ask. You really don't have too much to lose with a 3.2.
Alright. I do want to email him about the situation but I'm wondering how to frame it? Any other tips.
I'm going to assume it was a mental health illness...are you sure you want to do consulting - being ridiculously stressed, tired, overwhelmed, and criticized daily might not be the best recipe.
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