<p>Hi</p>
<p>So I graduated this May from UIUC with BS in Aerospace Eng. So my disastrous college (2.3 CGPA) life did have somewhat of a happy ending. So My first two years of my college life were pretty pathetic. I struggled with school and my highest gpa during those two years was a 2.8 and that was during the beginning when i was somewhat serious about my studies. My turning point was when I hit rock bottom, a semester where I scored a <1.5, I was almost kicked out. This is where I started to really shape up. It was gradual though. I scored a 2.5 the next semester,a 2.8 a semester after that. My senior year was when I really hit it home. I became interested in my field(robotics and control systems) and wanted to learn more. I scored a 3.2 during the Fall semester and for the final Spring semester, I got a 3.6 and placed in the top 3% in most of my courses, some of these courses were for graduate students. So this is somewhat of an unusual story and I really find it frustrating, had I experienced this "epiphany" earlier I probably could have saved my college career. </p>
<p>So I state my most recent GPA on my resume but I've always been asked for my cumulative during interviews and I really can't lie about that. Even though I've impressed recruiters with my technical knowledge in the field after answering their questions, my CGPA has always been my downfall at the end. </p>
<p>So what advice do you guys have? I want to work but I would like to go to grad school at some point in time. Any pointers?</p>
<p>By “my most recent gpa” do you mean your semester’s gpa? As in the last you’ve gotten out of an individual semester? Cause if so that seems unetchical, it is a standard to place your university’s cumulative gpa, maybe if you transferred it would be different, but maybe I’m misunderstanding you.</p>
<p>I clearly state “Final semester GPA” on my resume. Maybe if I just wrote “GPA” then that would be unethical. I’m not a fan of ambiguity on documents like these, that could really cost me. And most employers do get the picture, thats why i’ve always been asked for my cumulative during interviews</p>
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<p>Never list your most recent GPA on any resume or job application unless the company or grad school specifically requests it. If they investigate your GPA, and find out that you’ve been using the wrong one, you are at high risk of being blacklisted by that company or grad school. Always use your cumulative GPA unless asked otherwise.</p>
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<p>I hate to break it to you, but applying for any job, let alone grad school is going to be very tricky with a 2.3 CGPA, regardless of your positive GPA trend. You are far below the minimum threshold (3.0) for most companies and grad schools. You might try looking for job postings where a GPA requirement is not specifically stated, and remove all GPA’s from your resume (even your last semester GPA).</p>
<p>Yeah I kinda figured that out after a flood of rejections. At this point I might just go to a “decent” small college for a graduate degree and maybe try to come out of the ashes from there</p>
<p>Hey there. I am a senior in aero graduating this spring at UIUC as well. What are some of the courses you are taking next semester? How have you been feeling this semester?</p>
<p>It will be hard to get into a graduate program with a 2.3…</p>
<p>I agree with the previous posters, by putting “Final Semester GPA” on your resume, you are waving a red flag that will make your cumulative GPA stand out even more when you have to state it.</p>
<p>Try iowa state university they are pretty lenient with gpa requirements!</p>
<p>I would leave any reference to GPA off of the resume. It would be better to have a ready explanation, something like, “I was unprepared for how hard college would be, nearly failed out, but recovered and got a 3.2 and 3.6 in my last two semesters.”</p>
<p>It may be difficult, but I would suggest getting a job and trying to take 1 graduate class at a time as a non-matriculated student. A year of work experience, a couple of As in graduate classes, and your last semester grades will go a long way in erasing the mistakes of your sophomore year. You would still probably need dispensation from the Engineering Dean because of your low overall GPA, but you could at least make a case of it.</p>