<p>Me and one of my friends (both currently majoring in engineering) were talking about GPA in regards to starting salaries coming straight out of college with a bachelors degree and it got me thinking. He recently joined a frat that is into the drinking/party scene in a big way. By big, I mean that is just about all that they do. The frat's motto is basically: C's get degrees.</p>
<p>We both ended up with 4.0's our first semester after working our butts off (everyone here who is likely at an engineering college knows what I mean i'm sure.) Luckily the second, Spring semester, was a lot easier, but i'm not sure that will continue. I had a 4.0 again, but my buddy's GPA dropped to a 3.5 - still impressive at our school, but I know he could have had a 4.0 again if he hadn't joined the frat. </p>
<p>Anyhow, this has caused me to start wondering just how important a 4.0, or even a person's GPA period, is as long as they pass. No doubt, employers will be more keen on hiring someone with a high GPA, but does it really have much impact on starting salary?</p>
<p>I'm wondering what the differences in average starting salary are for people with 2.5GPA's, 3.5GPA's, and 4.0GPA's when it comes to engineering majors. Not sure if there's anyway of really finding this out for a particular school, but I thought i'd throw it out here for discussion. How important do you think GPA is when it comes to starting salaries? Would it be safe to expect, on average, a 10% difference in starting salary averages between highest and lowest GPA graduates?</p>
<p>I think the bigger difference among 2.5, 3.5 and 4.0 GPAs is that the higher GPA has more choices and better jobs to choose from. Additionally, the 4.0 would generally get a better chance to attend the grad school of your dreams (Although also dependent on many other factors). Better grad schools also opens up more options for the job you want.</p>
<p>I personally don't think that a 10%-20% difference in starting salary is imperative when it gets to finding the first job (Especially if one job gives you double the salary than the other). IMO, finding the right job that you really want is more important. But again... I only have internship/research experiences, so I wouldn't know what its like to get a full-time job.</p>
<p>What year are you guys in? I get the sense you've just started but I'm not sure. I know that GPA is very very important for getting internships / coops. Well at least at my school anyways. There was a year where only students getting high 80s , 90s were getting interviews but my school is not very good with internships / coop.</p>
<p>As noted above, it is a matter of hiring opportunities. There are many companies that have minimum GPA requirements for new hires out of college, usually in the 3.0 to 3.2 range, i.e., they are unlikely to even talk to you unless you have the minimum (an example: General Electric generally follows a 3.0 minimum). Those companies also tend to be ones paying the top dollar salaries to new graduates. Moreover, the higher above the minimum the better chance of being offered employment after the interview with them. GPA is also very important in choice of graduate schools.</p>
<p>Your gpa (along with related experience) is the main factor in getting you an interview for a higher paying job (obviously there are many factors for getting you an interview) but I think in many cases anything from 3.3+ will get you in the door. If you are lucky enough to get the job I think the difficulty of your degree will be the only other factor they'd look at for entry level salary determination. For the most part I think companies have gpa cutoffs and everyone highered with the same disipline will start off with the same pay at large companies (regardless of gpa).</p>
<p>Yeah, most large companies I know of offer the same salary to starting employees no matter what school they came from, their GPA, or anything else like that. The only difference would be a regional cost of living modifier.</p>
<p>The key is having a high enough GPA to get into the interview first, though.</p>
<p>My final GPA was a 3.5. I left it off my resume and nobody asked about it 'til I was hired (and then, they just wanted proof that I'd graduated). I did have a pretty polished cover letter and a decently impressive resume, including National Merit Scholarship and VP of the national civ eng honor society, so there were indicators as to the fact that I wasn't a total slacker, but despite the lack of GPA on my resume, my phone rang like crazy and I gave myself walking pneumonia flying across the nation every weekend for a month and a half to go on interviews.</p>
<p>Sooo... GPA is important, but I don't think it's <em>everything</em>. I'd actually really recommend developing some good negotiation skills for when you discuss salary (never be the first one to bring up money!). Your buddy will probably end up with a good job when all is said and done, and he'll probably have a good time doing it. A great GPA is a nice flag to wave, but don't forget to enjoy college, too. (It's the first and last time in your life when you'll be able to run nude across campus and put shaving cream buttprints on the windows of the library with no criminal repercussions.)</p>
<p>Important note: I would say that their is very little differentiation between a 3.5 & 4.0. IE: the tremendous level of work required to get a 4.0 has very little benefit when compared to a 3.5.</p>
<p>I'll go along with these guys with saying that GPA doesn't effect your starting salary, but does effect what companies are willing to hire you, the better ones with positions you want obviously paying a good rate. That said, your friend's fraternity might have good connections so that his GPA won't matter that much, who knows he might even get a better job than you. Dropping to 3.5 the second semester isn't bad at all, a 4.0 isn't necessary to succeed in life.</p>
<p>The only reason I know to really keep a top top GPA is if you're planning on going to a top-notch grad school. Otherwise, there's not really a difference between a 3.7 and a 4.0.</p>
<p>I know at my school it is very important. Hard to find an internships or jobs otherwise, and its usually the top engineering students in my school who gets the big salary offer before they even graduate.</p>