<p>I just finished my freshman year in the engineering school, and I got two C+s from my multivariate calc and physics I classes. With the rest of my grades, I have a 3.0x GPA.</p>
<p>I'm wondering how hard is it to improve GPA over the years. Do engineering classes at Cornell get harder/easier? more/less work? more/less curved?
I'm definitely working on raising my work ethic, but I found it weird how my 3credit 2000-level CS class had so much more work than my 4credit 1000-level CS class.</p>
<p>Also, how do employers for tech firms look at engineering GPAs? What GPA, on average, do I need to get past the screening process?</p>
<p>Pretty sure everyone felt the same way- you’re not the only one. I’m still not sure why they distribute the credits like that.</p>
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<p>From what I hear, that’s quite normal for freshman year. I think I’ve heard that first year average engineering GPA is like a 2.8-3.0 or something, so I’d say you’re doing pretty well. </p>
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<p>At least in the classes I’ve looked into in CS/ORIE/ChemE they are all curved fairly high with the exception of Stats 2 in ORIE, so I’d say that I’ve had more work in upper level classes but they were generous with grading. It seems that all intro engineering classes are curved to a B, but upper level classes in a variety of majors you’ll see more and more B+/A- medians.</p>
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<p>I can only speak with respect to finance and computer science- don’t have experience anywhere else. I won’t mention any specific companies, but I will say that top companies from finance will call you in for an interview if they see something that’s very abnormal/amazing even if you don’t have an amazing GPA. I’ve heard that a 3.5+ for finance from Cornell Engineering should be enough to get past the screening process.</p>
<p>As for computer science, I’d say that a 3.7+ is sufficient (again it depends on the company you’re applying for…). The interviews, at least for me, were heavily focused on brainteasers/programming/theoretical questions. They literally glanced at my resume for a second and then put it down (I’m assuming they didn’t give too much of a sh it about it), so it seems to a point, they do heavily value experience as well. As for finance, when I ask if they would like to have a copy of my updated resume they just stare at me and after a few seconds say “No.” I’ve never gotten the bs fit questions for a finance interview yet, but I know for general investment banking/capital markets/trading/sales/equity research they do tend to ask fit questions, so again, it’ll depend on what specific job you’re applying to in a sector as well. </p>
<p>So, I guess it depends on the firms you’re trying to get into/field. I can also speak for some MechE since I have quite a few friends from Pratt/Lockheed that do recruit here, and they’ve told me they like to see 3.6-3.8+. But, they also said, we’ll make exceptions “because we have requirements for diversity” and they start laughing for some reason- I’m not sure why.</p>