<p>Hi I was thinking of applying(interviewing) for an CoOp or internship at a company, but my GPA is low due to the first year of college and doesn't meet the minimum 3.0 that the company's literature states. I'm an engineer, and my GPA for the past two years has been a 3.2. Should I:
A) Lie, what are the chances of them asking for transcripts?
B) Interview anyway and hope they don't ask about GPA
or
C) Tell them the truth, I had a bad start at college, give my overall GPA and give my GPA from the past two years.</p>
<p>Some other facts that might help: I'm a grad student(MS) at a prominent school in my field(top ten ranked) engineer; also this is a division of NASA that I'm applying for(are they strict and allow no exceptions?) </p>
<p>I don't want to lie, its very unethical and unlike me, but if I have nothing to lose(except my reputation, though I doubt it), why shouldn't I?</p>
<p>^ I guess that's another question I have, I'm in grad school but haven't finished my first semester so I don't have grades/GPA. So the question being, since I'm in grad school, should I list my GPA separate from my undergrad GPA and should I even include my undergrad GPA?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I didn't mention my GPA when I asked for an interview tommorow, although I can definitely see how its more tactful and respectful to have done it beforehand, not to mention that it could be a waste of both our time if I can't get into the program.</p>
<p>I'm not 100% clear on this, which is why I posted this thread in the first place since I'm also kind of wondering how potential employers for jobs/CoOps/Internships fact check(do they ask for your school to send transcripts, what if you transferred, all schools you've been to) some of the things on resumes. Obviously I've never lied on my resume, but I have embellished/polished/marketting on some aspects.</p>
<p>So if I market my major GPA, what if they ask for my transcripts and they see my overall below 3.0? That's pretty much overall what I'm worried about.</p>
<p>Worry about that when the time comes. I've only had one organization ask for a transcript. </p>
<p>I disagree with mentioning your GPA when requesting an interview. If they wanted to know, they would've asked. Otherwise, you're just begging for them to reject you. When was the last time you saw an advertisement that pointed out negatives about their products? Don't forget that a resume IS an advertisement.</p>
<p>I've never put my GPA on my resume and have gotten lots of hits and four internship phone interviews so far at major corporations. If they ask for it in an interview, then tell them. My resume has probably gotten trashed for a lot of internships for not having a GPA, but who cares? I wouldn't want to work for them anyway. I would never put my GPA on my resume.</p>
<p>By the way, I am getting my Master's in Information Technology...so I don't know how it works with engineering.</p>
<p>I really don't know how the corporate world works, I've only had internships with my state government. I've been asked to supply just the classes I was enrolled in at the time and maybe an unofficial transcript that I never included my GPA on. I've only been asked once to supply official transcripts and I got laid off a few weeks later so I never gave them.</p>
<p>I'm hoping to get an internship or two with a corporation this spring or summer, so I really couldn't tell you how many times I've been asked for transcripts.</p>
<p>Have you tried your state government? They are a little more lenient on GPA and supplying transcripts.</p>
<p>The OP tells us that the internship requires a 3.0. He knew that and set up an interview anyway. A lot of people will be ****ed and toss his resume when they here the GPA. Had he told beforehand some people would have agreed to interview him anyway and he would have gotten points for the candor.</p>
<p>I have a similar problem, the company requires a 3.0 but didn't ask me in the interview. I'm wondering if they will after. Can they get your transcript directly from the school? Its a BIG company.</p>
<p>I believe that only you can request the transcripts. Companies can verify degree and dates of attendance.</p>
<p>Did they ask for references? If so, you're probably in the clear.</p>
<p>If not, they may ask you to have your transcripts mailed to them by the office of the registrar at your school.</p>
<p>Still, if they do, don't sweat it. Generally, if they are doing a background check they are mainly verifing that you aren't crazy. </p>
<p>GPA requirements are a prescreen tool, and if they didn't ask for it by now it probably won't come up because they like you enough without the requirement. If it's way off though, it may be an issue. Like 2.0 and they wanted a 3.5.</p>
<p>On a similar note, as you go through your career and look for jobs you will start to key in on HR lingo and techniques. They put "required" skills and list a bunch of skills, here they really mean you should have most, but not necessarilly all... it's more a wish list. If they put "must have" or "at least" followed by some metric than make sure you have some experience there and are close to the "at least" amount. Then, if they have a "desired" section it really helps to have one of these and highlight it in your resume. "desired" is the real wish list, the "it would be awesome if a person walked in with these skills on top of even 50% of those other skills". Just realize, that HR is writing these job requirements. The stuff isn't quanitative, it's totally a qualitative impression of what normally makes for a good candidate... and can be a conglomeration of skills from a number of different employees, none of which had all.</p>
<p>If it is a BIG company as you say, they will ask for your transcript eventually. I've interned / co-oped at two Fortune 500 companies now, had to turn in a copy of my transcript at both. </p>
<p>The company I currently co-op at requires me to maintain a 3.0 GPA. I have to turn in a transcript every semester I'm going to work here. They are EXTREMELY strict. Drop below a 3.0 and they will not bring a student back.</p>
<p>Well they asked me to look at their website and that these are the requirements. But they never asked me outright. They asked me about all the other requirements except that, and I do have all the other requirements. I don't put my gpa on my resume for obvious reasons, but I have a lot of experience. Would they turn me down just cause of the GPA? They have shortlisted me as a key candidate.</p>