<p>I'm a sophomore math major (former econ major) at Vanderbilt right now, and I currently have a pretty low GPA, from the range of 2.9-3.0. This was partly due to me being stuck in a major I have no interest in, and having poor study habits. I am going to improve my GPA over the next few years, but realistically speaking, I'll probably graduate with a 3.3-3.4 at best. </p>
<p>How detrimental will having a "low" college GPA be towards finding internships during college and finding a decent-paying job after graduating? I currently work part-time, and I did a paid internship summer before sophomore year.</p>
<p>Do you ask because you want to beat yourself up over not being able to change the past?</p>
<p>The answer is- yes and no. There will be some internships and jobs where a GPA of 2.9 will put you out the running. There will be some where that GPA is perfectly fine. And there will be some where the company won’t care, will never ask, and would be shocked to learn that anyone cares.</p>
<p>So just put this out of your head. Focus on what you’re doing, find something you love, get involved with things outside of academics so you expand your horizons both intellectually and artistically/community-wise, etc. Figure out how to apply yourself consistently and most important… look up over your desk and take advantages of the opportunities that being at a place like Vanderbilt gives you.</p>
<p>I agree with Blossom. Time to look forward instead of backwards. Both of my kid graduated from college with GPAs in the 3.3-3.4 range. One actually has a masters degree too. Both are employed.</p>
<p>Both also worked during college so that they had some job experience when they graduated. That might be something to consider.</p>
<p>Some jobs will care some won’t. Is it better or worse if you report your GPA in your (new) major? (It helps my son because most of his poor grades were in Arabic not in his major and he figures the important thing with Arabic, is the grade he gets in Arabic 4, not Arabic 1.) I agree that any job experience you can get before you graduate can be very helpful.</p>
<p>With a GPA as bad as 3.3 or 3.4, it is very likely that you will never be able to find a job that pays significantly above minimum wage.</p>
<p>As you know, your GPA defines you as a person and for every job you apply to for your entire career, they will want to know why your GPA was so low, and whether or not you will be able to hold your own in a professional environment.</p>
<p>You need to do well in the courses in your major. This will show that you learned the material expected of someone in your major. You likely need a certain gpa in your major to even be awarded a degree in it. I presume you have ability in math. Discuss things with your advisor. Eventually you will be asking for recommendations. Be sure to get to know your professors and do extras in math. It could be tutoring or being part of a math club for undergrads. You may want to add some computer science courses to your skill set. Software developers/engineers (title depends on the corporation) can come from math backgrounds with programming skills. Or you may want to add education to your skill set and become a HS teacher. Start thinking about what you will do with your math major. There should be a departmental advising center with ideas for grads. You will need to choose which type of math appeals most to you- applied or theoretical. You will need to choose your advanced math electives. All of this involves reading the school’s math department website and discussion with your advisor.</p>
<p>I wish I could remember where I heard this, but maybe it’ll give you a little perspective:</p>
<p>Do you know what they call the guy that graduated last in his class at medical school?</p>
<p>Doctor</p>
<p>GPA means a ton when you’re in school, and can mean a lot with regards to graduate school, but it’s less significant the longer you’re in the “real world”. Right out of college it may crop up and you may see some opportunities that you’re excluded from, but provided you actually got the education, you’ll be just fine in the long run and your GPA will become irrelevant after a while. It’s not going to haunt you.</p>
<p>Yes, a low college GPY could make it harder to find a job after college, an internship, when you are competing with others with the same type of resume and better grades. Of course, it would. But as BLossom says, what the heck can you do about past grades? You can start bringing your grades up now so you have an upward trend. Nothing you can do about what’s done. But, of course, yes, there are scenarios where you have compromised yourself. How much? DOn’t know. Depends on what your opportunities are and were. </p>
<p>As for the “Doctor” post, all well and good, but to get into med school, grades are very important and the OP isn’t likely to be called “Doctor” unless he gets a PHD.</p>
<p>I agree with soccerguy, OP is well and truly screwed. </p>
<p>Fortunately Vandy has a good alumni network where someone will give him a chance. After that first job, no one is ever going to ask your gpa again unless you go to grad school.</p>
<p>My GPA situation was weird because I went to community college first, so my GPA at graduation was only two years of upper division courses instead of the typical 4 year average of all kinds of courses-- that GPA was only a 2.9. I had a 3.7 or 3.8 before I transferred, but you don’t really average them together and nobody really cares about community college, so for all intents and purposes I had that 2.9 even if I don’t think that’s exactly fair. </p>
<p>Regardless, I went on maybe a dozen interviews and nobody ever even asked my GPA. I got a job within four months-- and it would have been within a few weeks but the company that hired me makes everybody interview with everybody and it always takes months. I had my first interview in April right after graduation and got hired in August. So, I really had no trouble.</p>
<p>My son managed to get a great summer job/internship without the employer asking about his GPA. He graduated from Brown as a CS major with a low GPA. The summer internship company offered him a job upon graduation and still never asked about his GPA. He’s been working there for over a year and loves everything about it. </p>
<p>I look at resumes a lot and if someone has a great GPA, they put it on their resume. If they leave it off, I usually don’t ask what it was. Some employers use it as a way to weed out applicants; many don’t. I agree with the post where they said to focus on getting job experience. In my mind, great GPA and zero work experience is less appealing than a so-so GPA and lots of work experience. I’d rather hire someone who has shown the ability to adapt to different work settings, do a job, and get a good reference from that employer.</p>
<p>I interview approx. 20 law students a year for externships. Good grades help but won’t get you a position. I don’t think I have interviewed anyone at less than the 50th percentile but I have hired many in the 60-75th over those with higher gpas. Fit is important. Attitude is important. </p>
<p>As I recently told one, because most everyone is “qualified,” I’d rather have someone with good skills and a great attitude over someone with great skills and a poor attitude anyday.</p>