College Concerns, help plz

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>So I am an electrical engineer major, freshman. I want to work on nanotechnology, specifically molecular manufacturing. I know it does not exist yet, but when it does emerge I want to be specialized in that field. I am taking a minor in nanoscience right now, and plan to take a graduate degree in materials science & engineering, or I will switch to a different college that has a degree more specific towards my goal. ANYWAYS.... to my problem:</p>

<p>I have A+ in multivariable calculus, and A+ in some physics classes, math and physics are my thing. I will enjoy doing nanotech, however my concerns are the other classes which bring down my GPA. I have some questions:</p>

<p>My GPA right now is 3.37 because of C's in government and others. Isn't this really horrible? How is it possible to have A+'s in math and science and have a GPA like that?
Am I screwed for life?</p>

<p>What happens after college? Do companies look at my GPA and think I'm ****, regardless of how I did in the classes that actually matter? (The math and sciences) </p>

<p>Is an electrical engineering major and a minor in nanoscience a good choice for my goals? (And say I continued with MatSE grad school) Will I have much difficulty in finding a job? What do companies look at the most when they hire college students? (I am interested in Zyvex or some other company related to nanotech.)</p>

<p>I am just worried in genearl about my future; Am I not doing well enough?
Here are my grades:</p>

<p>Government = C <---stupid class
MultiVar Calc = A+
Contemporary Physics = A
Physics Mechanics Lab = C <---annoying class
Physics Mechanics = A+
Intro to College = A- <-----stupid class
Rhetoric = B <-----stupid class</p>

<p>It frustrates me to have to take these idiotic classes such as rhetoric and intro to college, I know there are more such as humanities and arts and I am not going to like them. My plan is going to take them this summer at a community college, then starting next year I will have PURE MATH AND SCIENCE.</p>

<p>So in summary, my gpa is 3.37 I am electrical engineer and minor in nanoscience, LET'S JUST SAY that my gpa remains the same for the rest of my college, (of course it will change, but lets just say), am I screwed and will never find a job ever? </p>

<p>What I mainly want is access to nano equipment, and I know nano equipment is expensive, and will require good income or good position, if someone can tell me otherwise please do. If I could not explain what I am asking or mean well enough, hopefully you understand what I am saying...
Thanks for reading this much and please help, I feel screwed.</p>

2

<p>Yes, you are screwed. You were screwed the second you typed an abbreviated “please” with a “z”.</p>

3

<p>Dude, you are only a freshman. You have 3 more years to go ~~~~~~~~~
You can bolster your GPA to 3.5 if you get at least 2 As from two heavy credits courses, such as your next physics class, or whatever the case might be </p>

<p>Don’t worry. Keep working hard.</p>

<p>

Well. You have to speak to the research professors and see if they allow you to join the lab. But you won’t touch the equipments right away.</p>

4

<p>3.37 is a creditable GPA. Your GPA may well improve as you have more leeway in choosing courses to your liking. My S graduated in one of the worst job markets in most of our memories (2009) with a 3.4-ish GPA and had two job offers.
BTW, when the day comes and you compose your resume… you do it to show off your best self. You don’t lie, you don’t omit important things; but you present yourself at your best. So… let’s say that your overall GPA ends up being 3.37, but your GPA in your major/minor is 3.82 or whatever.</p>

<p>Present your GPA just that way, eg:</p>

<p>Education
XYA University BSEE, 2014
Engineering GPA: 3.82
Overall GPA: 3.37</p>

<p>Yes, there will be online applications that want you to fill in boxes where you might not have this option. Yes, there will be electronic resume screening that <em>might</em> not “read” your resume as you presented it. But you are quite likely to succeed with such a record.</p>

<p>Not to worry.</p>

5

<p>Never put your GPA on your resume. Matter of fact, never send your resume first.</p>

<p>I’ll give you a pro-tip, free of charge: type a list of jobs you are > 95% you will get; create an outstanding cover letter; send that cover letter to the jobs you listed earlier via FedEx; make sure you knock the interview. </p>

<p>You are welcome.</p>

6

<p>never put your GPA on a resume? isnt that required?</p>

7

<p>Unless a company specifically asks for your GPA, you don’t necessarily need to put it there. At school career fairs it is definitely the norm for the company to ask you your GPA if it isn’t actually on the resume.</p>

8

<p>No, never put your GPA on a resume; never send your resume first, for that matter. Boneh3ad already provided an exception to the rule (more than likely, the company(ies) recruit regularly from that school and probably have a good idea what a GPA from that particular school means in terms of student quality).</p>

<p>In all other cases, one is better off sending off a solid cover letter through FedEx/UPS/DHL/etc. In order to land an interview.</p>

9

<p>

</p>

<p>Forget even accessing nano equipment, good luck just having a chance to see it.</p>

10

<p>Thanks everyone for the replies. I have some more questions regarding a few comments:</p>

<p>“What I mainly want is access to nano equipment, and I know nano equipment is expensive, and will require good income or good position, if someone can tell me otherwise please do.”
When I said this I meant it in the long run, as a life goal.</p>

<p>“Forget even accessing nano equipment, good luck just having a chance to see it.” - RacinReaver
What exactly did you mean by that?</p>

11

<p>It’s a joke on you saying nano equipment, as in very small equipment.</p>

<p>Also nano-tech is a buzzword and a sham.</p>

12

<p>At least you got an A- in Intro to College. I mean, your GPA should then be 3.6/3.7. Because this semester is your intro to college.</p>

13

<p>

I think this is very broadly stated, and is advice to be followed at your own risk. There are companies who put resumes aside if they do not have GPAs. They “plan” to take a look at such resumes if they are unable to find suitable hires from the resumes which do have the GPA.</p>

<p>So… maybe it depends on your sub-specialty, the types of companies you are targeting… I don’t know. But I think it is risky advice, and not sure what it is based on.</p>

14

<p>I haven’t heard the “don’t put your GPA on your resume” advice either. Everybody that I’ve talked to or read about says otherwise. People generally assume no GPA listed means sub 3.0 GPA.</p>

15

<p>Putting your GPA on a resume for a career fair is not a big deal. But I suppose when you go for a job interview, you need to bring your current transcript with you, don’t you?</p>

16

<p>Which GPA is used for your resume… Your average scores over the 4 years!?</p>

17

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</p>

<p>Nobody’s ever asked me to do this. As part of the background check, they may request your transcript to verify your GPA or that you really have a degree or are a student but the transcript is rarely but ever asked. Strangely enough, I had to submit my with my application materials transcript when I applied to Google. Google is an academically focused company I guess.</p>

18

<p>Never had to bring my transcript to an interview. I did have to submit a copy once because the job requirements listed a minimum number of credits to qualify for the job (and this was a government position).</p>

19

<p>I have had to submit my transcript before but only after actually getting the job.</p>

20

<p>Agree with all of those who believe a transcript will never be needed at a career fair or job interview. Some employers (I believe more and more these days… to combat resume fiction etc.) may want them as part of the final hiring process.</p>

<p>

Not totally sure I understand the question. You would put your current GPA on your resume. If you have graduated it will be the final GPA from all 4 years, yes. As I stated above, you are fashioning your resume… so you lay it out to present yourself in your best light. You do not lie or omit key information, but you can craft it to suit yourself.</p>

<p>So, you might list your overall GPA and your Engineering GPA. Or if you have a significant upward trend after a rocky start… you might list your overall GPA and your final 2 years’ GPA. </p>

<p>In the end, you may be submitting a transcript… so it will all be verified if they care to do so.</p>