<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>I'm a senior majoring in Accounting Information Systems with a minor in Economics, and I have a very low GPA. After this spring semester, my GPA is a 2.821 Cumulative. I wanted to get your guys opinion on how much I could raise it to? I have 18 classes left until I complete my degree. What do you guys think my chances of interning / getting hired by the Big 4 are? I am involved on campus with Beta Alpha Psi, and I have an officer position with ISACA. My goals after I get finished with my bachelors degree is to sit for the CPA exam. How can I improve myself academically, and with my extra-curricular activities to improve my chances of getting hired? </p>
<p>Thank you all for your help.</p>
<p>If you don’t have 150 hours after you graduate, I would go for an MPA so you can take the CPA exam. Or you could take 30 random hours at the university to increase your 2.8 GPA and still sit for the CPA. I think the highest it could go with 16 classes would be a 3.1. Assuming they were all As. Try getting an internship/job though.</p>
<p>Time to put aside the books and live. In 2010, under a 3.0 GPA is equivalent to under a 2.0 back in the old days. Without a 3.0, you might as well have not have graduated, as most employers will throw your resume in the trash.</p>
<p>someone, somewhere will hire you.</p>
<p>You should apply for the big4 regardless but I wouldn’t put too much hope in hearing back from them. Even if you have a 3.1, without any relevant work experience or good references your chances of being hired by the big4 is low. Settle for a smaller firm and do your hours, take your CPA, and then apply for the big4.</p>
<p>Think of it this way. they have thousands of applicants but a limited number of openings and all of them have a 3.3-3.5 GPA or above w/ work experience. What will makes you attractive enough with a 2.8 GPA so they will consider interviewing you?</p>
<p>The Big 4 is probably out of your reach. Is your major GPA above a 3.0? Do you have any great accounting internships under your belt? </p>
<p>Shoot for the best possible grades in your remaining classes; try to make the Dean’s list, even it means taking really easy classes. If in the end your GPA is still below a 3.0, leave it off your resume. However, you can put Dean’s List, Sept 2010 - May 2011 (or whatever the time frame is). Then apply for positions at smaller firms. Many smaller firms might not even ask about your GPA, especially if they assume you’re a Dean’s List student.</p>
<p>Also, at my school, Beta Alpha Psi has a 3.3 GPA requirement. I assumed it was the same everywhere, is it not?</p>
<p>Thank you for all your replies! </p>
<p>Couple things I would like to clear up and questions that I had. </p>
<p>DenuMx - What is a MPA program? I used a GPA calculator and with 18 classes left I was coming out with around 3.32 GPA assuming I work my butt off and get all As. But the 3.32 wont be before recruiting season happens in the fall. </p>
<p>Mistaken - Thank you for that great Deans list suggestion. The Beta Alpha Psi chapter at our school has a 3.0 minimum GPA requirement, and before the Spring 2010 semester, I had a 3.1 Cumulative which significantly dropped after grades came out.</p>
<p>masters in professional accounting, basically getting a masters in a year</p>
<p>Below a 3.0 will make Big Four nearly impossible unless you are from an underrepresented minority group(i.e. Black or Hispanic) with really good people skills.</p>
<p>even if you were black/hispanic, you would still need strong stats…</p>
<p>Uh, hell no pierre. That sort of thing depends completely on the applicant pool. There are quotas that need to be met.</p>
<p>@jonahrubin, do they actually check minority groups to get employed. and which group incase gets employed most and which has more potential to get employed.</p>