<p>For those who have been at wharton for several years or graduated:</p>
<p>I'm just wondering what kind of GPA is needed to be able to get a job when I graduate? I know GPA isn't everything, but I have heard companies do have GPA cutoffs (what is it?). I made some dumb decisions about classes to take this semester (i'm a freshman), so my GPA isn't doing so well. </p>
<p>also, how difficult is it to get A's in the wharton core classes?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>in this economy, i'd say 3.7+ for top firms.</p>
<p>usually, it's like 3.5 though (overall). If you look on PennLink, most sophomore programs have that 3.5 cutoff.</p>
<p>the core classes aren't too bad. I mean, logically, if you are mandated to take it, it can't be THAT difficult, right?</p>
<p>GPA only is good to get you the interview. After you get an interview, GPA doesn't really matter that much. That's why that whole "take easy classes to boost GPA" only works to a certain extent.</p>
<p>If you have a 4.0 but haven't taken anything substantial, they'll figure that out 5 minutes into the interview.</p>
<p>Wait are they like quizzing you in the interviews?</p>
<p>haha i'm guessing you haven't gone through OCR?</p>
<p>yes, they quiz you. Hell, they test you. Go google "investment banking superday" - basically an all day session of interviews (like 4-6, each 30 minutes) in New York.</p>
<p>I was at an interview and they made me do a valuation using a P/E multiple. They gave me pencil and paper and financial statements.</p>
<p>It depends on your area of interest, but for ibanking, they'll ask you valuations models (DCF, APV, comps, etc.) and accounting (you WILL likely get this question "a firm has $100 of depreciation. how does this affect the 3 financial statements).</p>
<p>for consulting, they will ask you something like this: "you have a pharma firm, they have a one-hit wonder drug which is their only valuable product. What things would you look at to value it?" (you may get this in asset management). </p>
<p>You'll get some of those inane fit questions, like "what is your greatest weakenss" (personally i want to say "self-assessment" and flip them off....but don't do that)</p>
<p>You may get math questions, like "quick: what's 13% of 17,000." (have do it in your head, but it's not too hard)</p>
<p>You may get "brainteasers," such as how would you move MOunt Fiji</p>
<p>You may get "impossible questions," such as "How many laundry machines are there in New York?"</p>
<p>You may get questions that gauge your true interest in the field: they asked me "how is a typical ibank structured"</p>
<p>There are usually at least two rounds. In the latter rounds, you may be interviewed by multiple people.</p>
<p>Pennlink has practice questions. There is a book on Microsoft's questions, called "How Would You Move Mount Fiji?"</p>
<p>this is why we all hate OCR. and right now, the pressure is really on, with the bad economy</p>
<p>Sounds like some really tough questions and then some kinda fun questions! It'll be interesting to see how these companies go through their recruiting process, especially at a place like Wharton. </p>
<p>Oh, and by the way ... how would you move Mount Fiji?</p>
<p>yeah...they're not so fun when you're in front of 3 managing directors who don't want to be there.</p>
<p>i wouldn't move mount fiji. it's a volcano.</p>