<p>I just finished my first quarter at NU and got a 3.5 gpa (3 a-'s and a b). I'm planning on majoring in econ and am confident that I'll be able to raise my cumulative gpa because i considered this first quarter to be an adjustment period where I focused more on meeting people and having fun (maybe not the wisest decision in retrospect). If I'm looking to go into finance/consulting, will a gpa of around 3.6 suffice? Is it acceptable to get a 3.5 first quarter? Thanks</p>
<p>3.5 seems to be the cutoff some recruiters like using for highly competitive jobs. It’s also the cutoff for many PhD programs. It seems to be the divide people have mentally between good and excellent, much like 700 on GMAT. I think you should be fine with getting interviews even with the top firms, provided the rest of your resume is competitive. Those high finance/consulting fields are known for having pretty smart and outgoing people but not nerdy genius type (those are more like quants/actuaries in my mind). Furthermore, the average ug GPA for Harvard/Wharton/Kellogg classes is around 3.5; many of them worked in top consulting/ib before. If you don’t get the interview, it’s mostly likely because the rest isn’t sufficient, not because the GPA is too low. Once you get invited, it’s all about the interviews.</p>
<p>Considering the all-school average is like a 3.4ish, that’s pretty good, especially for first quarter. Yeah, I know someone who got an awesome job with a 3.3, but that’s because he had a great resume. There are ways around it, it just depends on what else you are bringing to the table.</p>
<p>There is little difference in consulting/finance if you have above say, a 3.5/3.6 until you get to the 3.9+</p>
<p>thanks guys. this is reassuring. also, do you think i stand a chance at being admitted to the kellogg certificate program without MENU or MMSS? do consulting firms recruit Northwestern students outside MMSS and the certificate program? thanks</p>
<p>Doesn’t the Kellogg certificate actually have MENU/MMSS as a pre-req? If so, then no, no chance.</p>
<p>No, it doesn’t. Neither program requires MENU or MMSS:
[Kellogg</a> School Certificate Program for Undergraduates - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/prospective/meds/prerequisites.htm]Kellogg”>http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/prospective/meds/prerequisites.htm)
[Kellogg</a> School Certificate Program for Undergraduates - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/prospective/finance/prerequisites.htm]Kellogg”>http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/prospective/finance/prerequisites.htm)
You just have to fulfill the Math 230, 234 and 240 sequence, which shouldn’t be too bad. I have no idea if doing this easier sequence reduces your chances, however, but I doubt it as long as you do well in them and the other requirements as well.</p>
<p>And of course consulting firms recruit Northwestern students outside MMSS and the certificate program…</p>