<p>Okay so the semester is over next week and I'm so depressed. BTW, I'm a freshman, but still.</p>
<p>So anyway, the worst I'll have is 4 B- (which average to a 2.7) and the highest I'll probably have is a 3.0 gpa. GAhhh. I want to enter the business world and this is so annoying to me. I know I have 7 other semesters, but still. Semesters only get harder and not easier. I'm sorry, but I'm just a paranoid person. I really am going to work my ass off the next 7 semesters no matter what. I'm not trying to use this as an excuse, but I really did have a hard time adjusting to this semester in college. In the beginning I wasn't motivated, I had a hard time with social life, I contemplated transferring, and I was constantly depressed. Again, I'm not trying to use this as an excuse but yeah. </p>
<p>I am totally motivated now to kick ass my next 7 semsters. How do you think business/IB firms will look at upward trend (i.e. 2.7-->3.3--->3.5--->3.7--->3.7, etc)? Gahh can someone with experience or just any word of advice help ease my concerns? Gahhh I can't wait till this semester is over. :/</p>
<p>You actually have 4 more semesters to get close to 3.5. The best way of getting a job offer is by by getting an internship junior summer, and that’s usually done winter/spring of junior year. By end of junior fall semester you should have 3.5 gpa.</p>
<p>companies won’t see if you have an upward trend…they will just see whatever GPA you list on your resume (cumulative or major or both). Just work hard…one poor semester won’t kill you.</p>
<p>^You’re right. Thanks so much whartongrad. This is why I love coming here for advice, because you have experienced people who know what they’re talking about.</p>
<p>I’m really determined to work my tail off these next 4 semesters. And I totally forgot that companies recruit for junior summer internships. That makes it even more daunting (o.o) but nonetheless, I’m determined and see what went wrong this semester and I plan on fixing it.</p>
<p>While we’re on the subject, what do you guys think are someways to make yourself stand out in an application pool in which everyone has the same GPA as me or higher? What’s the dividing line in which the higher says “we want X to work for our company!”?</p>
<p>You can bu11sh1t your way into banking with a 3.0. You might not get a job at a top 4 since they’ll screen you out, but you can still end up getting a job at a decent firm. You just need to be part of some extracurricular activity. Join some cause or organization, show some leadership, some responsibility, some diversity that isn’t just the typical business undergrad. I don’t mean those garbage business frats or clubs.</p>
<p>Put yourself in the shoes of an HR screener and predict what it takes to get an internship. They spend like 15 to 30 seconds on a resume. If you’re not interested in yourself, they won’t be. Nothing more boring than the same old candidate who thinks all it takes is a good GPA with a business degree will land them interviews.</p>
<p>Have some story ready about why your GPA isn’t as high as other candidates, but you made up for that because you were involved in something of significance. Show how everyone else took the same road while you bailed from that comfort zone. You’re versatile, you can adapt.</p>
<p>^ i agree with positivecarry…you can definitely BS your way into banking with a 3.0 (i would only caveat this by adding…at a target). I knew a top of people with GPAs in that range that got decent banking jobs from Wharton. The thing that differentiated most of these folks is that they had great people skills, leadership, etc. and where not just quant jockeys. They proactively sought interesting internship positions after freshman and sophomore year that made them stand out. I had a friend, for example, that had a 2.9. The guy wasn’t dumb…he just partied a ton and never studied. I never saw him study more than the couple of hours before any test. The guy literally skipped class most days, prob only did like 5 hours of work a week. However, the guy was super charismatic, had great people skills, etc. He networked his way to an internship in M&A at a mid-size but recognizable tech company after freshman year, after sophomore year he networked his way into a VC job. Obviously this set him apart from other applicants (he never listed GPA on his CV btw) who were 4.0 quant jockeys but did BS work during those summers. The guy landed an investment banking job at Citi after graduation…he ended up top of his analyst class, promoted to associate after 2 years, and now just got promoted to vp after 2 years…he is one of the youngest vps in the company’s history. just saying…be proactive and try to network (through your family contacts or whatever means) to get interesting jobs for after freshman year and after sophomore year…interesting things include VC, PE, investment banking (all of these things at small local firms - you can offer to make it unpaid), corporate strategy or corporate development (M&A) at a recognizable company, etc.</p>
<p>depends on your school. personality wise i don’t see you as a good fit for banking though. seems like you are insecure and would complain a lot (could obviously be wrong).</p>
<p>First of all, what school you attend will make a huge difference. A 3.0+ at a target like Wharton is enough to get some kind of business/financial service job (although it probably won’t be like GS TMT). On the other hand, a 3.0 at a non-target state school will make it much more difficult to get a good job. </p>
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<p>You should realize that a GPA really only matters in getting a first round interview. If you can get that first round interview, then it comes down to fit and how much the interviewers like you. My suggestion if you have a lower GPA is to network more, meet/talk to alums and hope that one of them goes to bat for you come interview time. </p>
<p>Good luck bringing that GPA up, and feel free to PM me if you have any other questions</p>