<p>I'm a junior and PoliSci major at UMich and I'm looking at international relations/security internships. The thing is my GPA doesn't meet the 3.0 minimum that a lot of organizations ask for; I have a 2.955 as of now. I'd like to know how strict this rule is; I mean it kind of doesn't make sense to me that a kid who went to a less challenging school with a high gpa could apply and someone who went to a more difficult school couldn't because of the gpa difference. What are your guys thoughts/advices? thanks in advance.</p>
<p>It can't hurt to apply. Besides, a 2.955 GPA rounded to the tenth is a 3.0.</p>
<p>I know but the thing is that a lot of these programs ask for a 4-5 pg writing sample and I don't want to do spend my time writing them all for nothing if they turn me down simply because of my gpa.</p>
<p>I don't think they are that strict</p>
<p>my internship required a 3.2 GPA, I had a 3.0 at the time and I was selected</p>
<p>Its all about personality. I think that most recruiters will tell you that .005 points on your GPA is not going to make a difference. If your resume is good enough to land the interview, it is in your hands from that point on. Many companies post that they require a 3.0 GPA, however, I think that many of them are willing to bend these rules. If you think about it logically, there are probably close to half of the students in a given university who dont meet this requirement, yet lets face it - rarely will you only see a 50% employment rate upon graduation. There are countless cases where a student with a lower GPA gets the job over the student with a higher GPA, it usually comes down to your people skills.</p>
<p>Long story short, I dont think it will be a waste of time to apply. If you write good essays and make sure your resume is in top shape - then there is a decent chance you will get an interview. From that point on its in your hands </p>
<p>If you're too lazy to take a chance on writing what's needed to get your foot in the door, you're probably right not to bother. When you have a GPA or any stat below what employers are looking for it will require a fight to get a chance at the job. You'll have to jump through hoops. So figure out whether it's worth your effort or not, there will be no guarantees.</p>