Explaining mediocre college grades in internship applications?

Parent Cafe
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<p>I'm about to start applying for internships for next fall (my school is on a flexible quarter system; I'll be on campus taking classes sophomore summer, and will have a leave term junior fall). I write well, have previous internship and work experience, am involved in several extracurriculars on campus, shouldn't have any trouble with academic or professional recommendations, and excel at interviews. I'm not worried about any of that.</p>

<p>But I only have a 3.3. It's not dreadful, I know, but as a consummate perfectionist, I find it so embarrassing. :rolleyes:</p>

<p>Since starting college, I've had near-continuous health problems: recurring bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infections, something resembling mono that was never properly diagnosed, and so on. Sophomore winter, I was finally diagnosed with an antibody deficiency that makes me more susceptible to respiratory infections (I catch them more easily, get sicker, and stay sick longer). I've started treatment for it now, but since I'm only a few weeks in, whether it's effective remains to be seen. </p>

<p>Should I mention this in my applications (perhaps in a short paragraph in my cover letters), or does that look too much like making up excuses? Of course I take responsibility for my mediocre grades, but it's undeniable that my frequent illnesses have adversely affected my academic performance. On the other hand, I'm concerned that drawing attention to it might seem pedantic, since my grades aren't disastrous<a href="just%20lackluster">/i</a>, and it seems silly-bordering-on-ridiculous to ask for special consideration because *I get really bad colds.</p>

<p>How would you like to see this portrayed? Should I mention it at all?</p>

<p>For whatever it's worth, my average in my major is about a 3.7, but I haven't taken that many classes in the department yet.</p>

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<p>I’m voting for keeping your myriad health problems as a reason why your GPA wasn’t top drawer out of your application. Many internships have a GPA floor (often 3.0), but if you are higher than the floor, then you should concentrate on crafting an application that spotlights something extra about you that would make them want to give you the position.</p>

<p>My question is whether you could delay when you take the internship. Will your health be able to withstand the rigors of the internship?</p>

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<p>I would not mention/apologize for your GPA for several reasons:</p>

<ol>
<li>3.3 is not a mediocre GPA. They may even find it good.</li>
<li>You will, yes… sound like you are making excuses.</li>
<li>You will make them wonder if you will be too constantly ill to handle the job.</li>
</ol>

<p>What I <em>would</em> do is list your GPA two ways: Major GPA: 3.7. Overall GPA: 3.3.</p>

<p>That will present you at your strongest. Good luck.</p>

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<p>^Great solution, jmmom!</p>

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<p>As a Dartmouth parent, I know if you’re competing with other Dartmouth students, a 3.3 is indeed a mediocre GPA. So what type of internship you’re applying for would need to be known for a good answer. </p>

<p>If you’re using career services and hitting up Dartmouth alum, I think during the interview I’d briefly say something.</p>

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<p>On the other hand, if you’re in a situation where you’re mostly competing with students who attend less prestigious colleges, the mere fact that you go to Dartmouth may outweigh your GPA. </p>

<p>In that case, the best strategy would be to keep your mouth shut.</p>

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<p>Jmmom’s point #3 is the point I was going to bring up. Employers do not want an employee who will most likely be out sick or working sick for the short time they are there. If you were sick enough that it affected your grades, then the easy conclusion is that you would also be sick enough that it would affect your future job performance.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the replies. It seems as though not mentioning it is the best idea unless it comes up in an interview, as much as it makes me cringe to imagine what the people evaluating my resume will assume about me from it (hmom5 is right that it’s below average for my school). </p>

<p>I don’t think my health will be an enormous impediment to an internship, for a number of reasons. First, I started treatment in January, immediately after I was diagnosed; I don’t have confirmation that it’s been effective yet (I’m going in for a blood test tomorrow to see if my antibody levels have improved), but anecdotally I can say that I’ve only been sick once in that period, and for less than a week, whereas previous illnesses have lasted two to nine weeks.</p>

<p>Second, part of why freshman year was so awful was that I had in some ways the prototypical college student lifestyle, which I know now that I’m not physically capable of maintaining. For instance, I can’t pull all-nighters or even sleep five-hour nights on a regular basis, because I’ll get sick. I’ve had to make an effort to change my study habits (working in the afternoon, not late at night), and planning for eight hours of sleep every day can be a nuisance (when my friends go out on weeknights, I stay in), but it’s helped me feel much better.</p>

<p>Third, I would be living with my family in New York during the internship, and would presumably have lower exposure to disease (no dorms, dining halls, frat basements…) and a less hectic schedule (no homework, exams, extracurricular activities…). </p>

<p>Fourth, I didn’t go to college to get a “Mrs.” degree, and I expect to spend the next half-century or so working full-time. Most people seem to manage… surely I can, too.</p>

<p>Maybe I protest too much, but I think it’ll be all right. It probably helps that I have no interest in banking, in case anyone was concerned (that I don’t think I’d have the stamina for). In the long run I’m interested in public policy, but since I’m geographically constrained by where my parents live (not that New York City is such a horrendous place to spend a leave term!), I’ll likely be at a nonprofit or somewhere corporate, depending on what looks more interesting.</p>

<p>Thanks again for the suggestions!</p>

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<p>You can refer to your health problem if the GPA question comes up by saying something like, “Yes, my GPA was affected when I missed some class time due to illness but I am very healthy now.” I wouldn’t bring it up, but if it does come up, treat it as something from your past and not an ongoing illness that may exclude you from consideration for the internship.</p>

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<p>I’ve seen situations when lower GPA students vastly outperform students with higher GPAs in internship interviews. Demonstrating preparation for the interview, energy, good people skills, a good work ethic, and interest are reasons why those students were advantaged. In some cases, a background in customer service (waitressing, retail) were presented as giving the applicant the ability to problem solve and work with a variety of individuals. Make yourself the best possible interviewee and play up all experiences that demonstrate your ability to contribute.</p>

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<p>I’ve rewritten my resume and would appreciate a second opinion. Would anyone mind taking a look? PM me for details.</p>

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<p>You can PM it to me, with your email address, and enough info about the type of internship/organizations who will be looking at it… that I can evaluate in context.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Good news: I got my lab results back today, and my antibodies are at a normal level. Apparently the pneumococcal vaccine really helped. What a relief.</p>