<p>I flunked out of college at the end of Spring last year. I was forced to stay out for 8 months, and just this year I was readmitted, and finished my spring semester. I'm in EE.</p>
<ul>
<li>My cumulative GPA is a 2.27. (I could definitely get this to a 2.9+ by the end of this upcoming school year)</li>
<li>My major GPA is a 3.08. (Only have 2 courses though, could definitely get this higher by the end of this upcoming school year)</li>
<li>I have never worked on a project. (Planning to work on several next semester)</li>
<li>I have never joined any organizations. (Planning to get involved in several next semester)</li>
<li>I know practically nobody. (Hoping I start to network more)</li>
<li>I have 2 years left to graduate. I'm a second semester sophomore this fall. </li>
</ul>
<p>I found out that most companies start to hire for internships in September - this means I would have to list my GPA as a 2.27, and I can't even list any of my future projects/organizations on my resume. </p>
<p>Considering my chances are very low for an internship next summer, how can I expect to get a job upon graduation in summer of 2011? With no work experience? No internships?</p>
<p>not everyone gets an internship…
Do summer research instead if you can’t find an internship.
Or take classes and work on that ol’ gpa.
You’re totally ok, you have nothing to worry about!</p>
<p>You should probably have considered continuing your existing thread. Also, you can list your major GPA on your resume. Just hope they don’t ask your cumulative GPA during an interview and if they do make sure you have a good explanation for why you did poorly.</p>
<p>But yes, by all accounts you’re currently on track for a job flipping burgers when you graduate. Now you will have to work three times as hard just to get up to “average” levels. So you’re not screwed, yet, but you have a lot of work to do. A lot.</p>
<p>I actually heard about people doing internships during the school year - is this an option I should probably consider? </p>
<p>I know that if I put in the work I can get my cumulative gpa past 3.0 by the end of this upcoming school year, and I know that I can definitely network and have experience with several projects (excluding EPICS). And I’m confident that I can get a job either this summer or the next, or I can volunteer, if I don’t get an internship. </p>
<p>Is it unheard of for a senior to get an internship one semester before graduation?</p>
<p>^^I’m doing both my internship and research during the school year plus 21 credits, it’s definitely possible. In my (limited) experience, it seems that the smaller companies don’t want to have to keep going through re-hiring and re-interviewing cycles at the end of each semester, and provided you did a decent job during the summer–they’ll usually keep you. I’ve been at my current internship since last May and it was supposed to have been just for the summer.</p>
<p>However, don’t stress if you can’t land one, try working on a project by yourself–which you can later use on your resume if you’re successful with it.</p>
<p>Dude there are many reasons why someone ends up like that. There is no shame, at least he realized his problem.</p>
<p>I dont understand how people mention summer research - at my school most of them have a 3.5 minimum gpa requirement. I believe its easier to get a job at city level with low gpa. MTA NY hires many with low gpa.</p>
<p>I keep seeing/hearing “planning”…what about now?</p>
<p>It’s nice to have a plan and it looks like you are proud of what your goals are going to be. I would like you to take some baby steps today and put that action plan into place. :)</p>
<p>Yea right now I’m just studying ahead for one of my courses this fall. </p>
<p>And I’m waiting on my friend to talk to this buddy at six flags to get me a job, if that doesn’t fall through then I’m going to start volunteering. </p>
<p>Moreover I’m already gong to start thinking about projects that I could be working on this fall.</p>
<p>First off, pat yourself on the back for staying in school.</p>
<p>Engineering is tough, and it is no shame to have a “low” GPA.</p>
<p>Don’t be in such a rush to graduate! Can you retake any of those classes you scored poorly in, or if there were a core elective, take a different one and bring up that GPA.</p>
<p>Remember, it’s not all about GPA. Schools, companies, are looking for well rounded individuals.</p>
<p>If you want to improve your marketability, bring up that GPA and get a master’s. It doesn’t have to be from an IVY school, either. Get one from a state uni, a lesser known one, where you may even be able to get a TA position, especially at one with a large student body. Check out the south, like Alabama or Mississippi. There are many Alabama state unis with engineering, like Birmingham or Huntsville, that have good internships with local companies: the medical center, Lockheed, NASA.</p>
<p>The economy is <em>supposed</em> to be headed for recovery next year, which would probably mean that these “hiring freezes” would start easying, so by 2011 when you graduate it might be a little easier to land an interview.</p>
<p>Also, if you have a 2.9-3.0 cumulative for engineering, I don’t think that would be a problem nor will it have to be something that you will have to explain. I mean, realistically you wont be working for NASA, but 3.0 is probably above average for engineering. And if it was mentioned you could point out the upward trend in your grades, meaning that you got higher grades in upper level classes, which shows that you sorted yourself out and are motivated since upper level classes are more difficult than freshman classes.</p>
<p>Not everybody gets internships. The best time to look for one is probably near graduation, since if you are a senior intern and you do a good job, chances are they will offer you a job if there is an opening.</p>
