LOW GPA = NO JOB?

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: SONYFX
A lot of big companies are recruiting on my campus now, but they all want to see my transcript, since my GPA = suck, do I have any chance at all?

YES and NO.

I've been in your shoes before. If you got an interview, that's a big step. You need soemthing to talk about. To wow them. Hoepfully you have CO-OPs and internships. If not. I won't lie. You are going to have a very hard time finding a job, depending on the field you are going in. What field are you going into?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Well put hans. Top 5 engineering school, almost sounds like RIT.

Honestly, I like the statement that no more than 10% of the students can score 85%-100%... that leaves 5% unaccounted for. Personally I hate instructors, let alone schools that grade on a curve. Most people hated me because I broke the curve often.

RIT is top 5. Bwa hahahahahaha. Not even close Off the top of my head:

GMI
Cal Tech
MIT

I'm sure others could add to the list.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I AM HI-JACKING THIS THREAD

Getting way off topic. let's help SONYFX out. I've been in his shoes and it truely sucks.

1) Where did you go to school (school,city,state)?
2) What does 60% mean in relation to the 4.0 scale that we all know?
3) What is your major ?
4) What is your relevant experience (co-ops and internships)?
5) Is your "in major" GPA better than your overall GPA?

My shoes when I graduated:
1) Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
2) GPA was a 2.6 or 2.7. Somewhere in that range.
3) Electrical Engineering
4) None
5) 2.8. Included it on my resume and it helped a bit.

My first job:
I got a job with a small company doing power engineering. I HATED IT. The one thing i did not want to do . I wanted to deal with circuit boards and microchip and that type of thing. no relelveant experience though
Quit after 3 months.

You quit?
Yes, biggest mistake ever. No plan was the mistake. In hindsight, quitting was the best thig I ever did. unemployed for 9 months though. About 6 months into unemployment, I decided to go back to school for a comp sci degree. No F'ing around this time. Before school , idid some landscaping to make some money.

Did more school help?
Yes. The no F'ing around policy saved me. I busted my tail. About a week before finals, I got a call from General Dynamics. They needed an Electrical Engineer or Comp Sci major to do a summer internship omn an electrical plant simulation. I did not even blink. I took it. Also made about $14/hour Nice money for hte first time in my life.

I ended up making a VERY good impression. Since I had a degree already, they hired me in the software engineering department. Never had to finish that second degree.

So, even if things seem horrible, remember you can always do something to improve your situation. You'll eventually get a job and if you don't like it. Go back to school. When I went back, I was kinda shocked to see some people working on their masters. Same story as me. Didn't get good grades. Said oh poop and basically decided to bust their tail during their masters.

As as side note. Student Loans get put on hold if you go back for a masters, so it's a VERY real possiblity.

Not sure how relevant my story is, but hopefully you see that there is a light at hte end of the tunnel ans long as you bust your tail to find it.

Karl

 

[HardcoreRobot]

When you graduate, the only common comparison btw you and someone else graduating with your same degree is your GPA. This being said, its is VERY UNLIKELY you will get "recruited" - it just doesnt make sense from a companies perspective. Almost all of the major companies recruiting at my school for CS would not look at any resume < 3.0, and many were 3.5 or above.

On the other hand, there are TONS of companies that want your skills. I pretty much think that aside from the initial in-college recruiting, the GPA doesn't matter, and it just comes down to your degree and your work experience. Like people have said, just go work for a smaller company. Probably dont expect to make as much money as the people being recruited either.

The big companies can afford to get the best of the best. I will agree that a bad GPA != IDIOT by ANY means. On the other hand, its hard to find someone with a kickass GPA that is dumb or not capable (its a sure bet, whereas low GPA could be a mixed bag).

 

[Gibson486]

Just because you get low grades does not mean you slack or are dumb.....My GPA recently plummetted and it was not due to salcking and/or being dumb. Engineering is a hard major and it becomes worse when you are surrounded by teachers who dont give a flying fvck about anything but their research and then they pick TA's that can't speak english .

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
When you graduate, the only common comparison btw you and someone else graduating with your same degree is your GPA. This being said, its is VERY UNLIKELY you will get "recruited" - it just doesnt make sense from a companies perspective. Almost all of the major companies recruiting at my school for CS would not look at any resume < 3.0, and many were 3.5 or above.

On the other hand, there are TONS of companies that want your skills. I pretty much think that aside from the initial in-college recruiting, the GPA doesn't matter, and it just comes down to your degree and your work experience. Like people have said, just go work for a smaller company. Probably dont expect to make as much money as the people being recruited either.

The big companies can afford to get the best of the best. I will agree that a bad GPA != IDIOT by ANY means. On the other hand, its hard to find someone with a kickass GPA that is dumb or not capable (its a sure bet, whereas low GPA could be a mixed bag).

I've met some people with high GPA's (above 3.7) who are dumb as a rock. They are get high GPA's cause they study there ass off. However, they do everythign by the book. Take away the book and tell them to apply what they learn and they start crying foul b/c "the professor never went over it".

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
When you graduate, the only common comparison btw you and someone else graduating with your same degree is your GPA. This being said, its is VERY UNLIKELY you will get "recruited" - it just doesnt make sense from a companies perspective. Almost all of the major companies recruiting at my school for CS would not look at any resume < 3.0, and many were 3.5 or above.

On the other hand, there are TONS of companies that want your skills. I pretty much think that aside from the initial in-college recruiting, the GPA doesn't matter, and it just comes down to your degree and your work experience. Like people have said, just go work for a smaller company. Probably dont expect to make as much money as the people being recruited either.

The big companies can afford to get the best of the best. I will agree that a bad GPA != IDIOT by ANY means. On the other hand, its hard to find someone with a kickass GPA that is dumb or not capable (its a sure bet, whereas low GPA could be a mixed bag).

I've met some people with high GPA's (above 3.7) who are dumb as a rock. They are get high GPA's cause they study there ass off. However, they do everythign by the book. Take away the book and tell them to apply what they learn and they start crying foul b/c "the professor never went over it".

Yes i agree with you there too. The thing is, these people are going to be successful on any level because they are willing to do that work. From a companies perspective, its probably better off to get a dumb person with a high gpa (that will work their ass off), than to get a smart person with a bad gpa (which suggests they didnt apply themselves or work hard).

 

[shiner]

I have interviewed a lot of people over the last two years and I have never asked for their GPA. That's doesn't tell you jack squat really. So someone made a 4.0 and someone else made a 2.3 whop de friggen do. All that tells me is that the 4.0 person was probably stuck in their dorm room every weekend studying, and occasionally taking a break to play his Cleric in the ongoing Dungeons &amp; Dragons game his dorm floor had going, while the other guy was going to class but also found time to REALLY experience college. I get so sick of people thinking that college is just all about the classes and how you do in them. College is so much more than that. It is about experiencing life, discovering who you really are, knocking boots with every hottie you can find, learning/hearing opposing views, finding out how much you really can drink before you pass out in a pool of your own vomit, etc, etc, etc..... Bah!! What was my point? Oh yeah.....GPA shouldn't matter for sh1t if you ask me.

By the way......in case you were wondering I have multiple degrees and my overall GPA was 3.63.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Mc Donald's doesn't care about your GPA =)

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
Getting way off topic. let's help SONYFX out. I've been in his shoes and it truely sucks.

Let's not help him out. He is a fatuous ass who doesn't deserve our help. If he showed an ounce of respect to anyone else, he might have had a number of productive replies. Instead he is getting what he deserves which is nothing....

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
I have interviewed a lot of people over the last two years and I have never asked for their GPA. That's doesn't tell you jack squat really. So someone made a 4.0 and someone else made a 2.3 whop de friggen do. All that tells me is that the 4.0 person was probably stuck in their dorm room every weekend studying, and occasionally taking a break to play his Cleric in the ongoing Dungeons &amp; Dragons game his dorm floor had going, while the other guy was going to class but also found time to REALLY experience college. I get so sick of people thinking that college is just all about the classes and how you do in them. College is so much more than that. It is about experiencing life, discovering who you really are, knocking boots with every hottie you can find, learning/hearing opposing views, finding out how much you really can drink before you pass out in a pool of your own vomit, etc, etc, etc..... Bah!! What was my point? Oh yeah.....GPA shouldn't matter for sh1t if you ask me.

By the way......in case you were wondering I have multiple degrees and my overall GPA was 3.63.

that's really fair.. let's lump all 4.0 students into the loser group, cuz we all KNOW it's impossible to maintain good grades and enjoy college at the same time. god forbid there are actually smart AND outgoing people in this world.:disgust:

 

[Doboji]

Originally posted by: SONYFX
A lot of big companies are recruiting on my campus now, but they all want to see my transcript, since my GPA = suck, do I have any chance at all?

I've never been asked for my GPA..... it's only going to be an issue for me when I try to apply to grad school.... but hopefully by then I'll have some connections, experience and a kick ass GMAT score...

-Max

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: shinerburke
I have interviewed a lot of people over the last two years and I have never asked for their GPA. That's doesn't tell you jack squat really. So someone made a 4.0 and someone else made a 2.3 whop de friggen do. All that tells me is that the 4.0 person was probably stuck in their dorm room every weekend studying, and occasionally taking a break to play his Cleric in the ongoing Dungeons &amp; Dragons game his dorm floor had going, while the other guy was going to class but also found time to REALLY experience college. I get so sick of people thinking that college is just all about the classes and how you do in them. College is so much more than that. It is about experiencing life, discovering who you really are, knocking boots with every hottie you can find, learning/hearing opposing views, finding out how much you really can drink before you pass out in a pool of your own vomit, etc, etc, etc..... Bah!! What was my point? Oh yeah.....GPA shouldn't matter for sh1t if you ask me.

By the way......in case you were wondering I have multiple degrees and my overall GPA was 3.63.

that's really fair.. let's lump all 4.0 students into the loser group, cuz we all KNOW it's impossible to maintain good grades and enjoy college at the same time. god forbid there are actually smart AND outgoing people in this world.:disgust:

I'm guessing you aren't a 4.0 student since you missed my saying "All that tells me is that the 4.0 person was probably stuck in their dorm room every weekend studying"

 

[torpid]

Don't worry, if your GPA doesn't turn them off, your personality will. Unless it's a lot different in person.

There's no point in interviewing with companies that always come to your campus if your GPA is inferior. They obviously know what the school is like and are interviewing people who are no doubt better than you are. Don't waste your time. Seek out companies on your own. Maybe they will be impressed by going to a top 5 engineering college in the state of alabama or whatever.

 

[cessna152]

My GPA just slipped below a 3.0 to a 2.96 because of one humanities class I had to take this year... I'm finding it very hard to apply and getting rather depressed about it. As was states before, many companies won't even look at me now that my GPA is below a 3.0. I'll revise that. None of the companies so far will even look at my resume because of the GPA. The first question has always been, "What is your GPA?". I say 2.96 and I see their whole expression change and the tone of the conversation goes way south. My resume isn't that shabby looking either. I've had two research internships on campus and hold two jobs. Both of them related to systems management and customer service. At this point, I've definitely lost any sense of direction and question my choice of doing EE.

I've no clue why I typed this out...

 

[torpid]

I know why you typed it out... because you wanted to let the OP know that there's at least one more person who will get a job before he does...

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
All that money spent on an engineering degree and you have the social graces of a rock. Based strictly on what you've written here tonight, it's not your GPA that will keep you from getting a job....it'll be that you bomb the interview.

Certainly brings new meaning to the phrase, "You rock."

 

[nageov3t]

I graduated with a 3.8... I didn't do it by memorizing the book or spending all my time studying. I'm probably just smarter than you

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: shinerburke

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: shinerburke
I have interviewed a lot of people over the last two years and I have never asked for their GPA. That's doesn't tell you jack squat really. So someone made a 4.0 and someone else made a 2.3 whop de friggen do. All that tells me is that the 4.0 person was probably stuck in their dorm room every weekend studying, and occasionally taking a break to play his Cleric in the ongoing Dungeons &amp; Dragons game his dorm floor had going, while the other guy was going to class but also found time to REALLY experience college. I get so sick of people thinking that college is just all about the classes and how you do in them. College is so much more than that. It is about experiencing life, discovering who you really are, knocking boots with every hottie you can find, learning/hearing opposing views, finding out how much you really can drink before you pass out in a pool of your own vomit, etc, etc, etc..... Bah!! What was my point? Oh yeah.....GPA shouldn't matter for sh1t if you ask me.

By the way......in case you were wondering I have multiple degrees and my overall GPA was 3.63.

that's really fair.. let's lump all 4.0 students into the loser group, cuz we all KNOW it's impossible to maintain good grades and enjoy college at the same time. god forbid there are actually smart AND outgoing people in this world.:disgust:

I'm guessing you aren't a 4.0 student since you missed my saying "All that tells me is that the 4.0 person was probably stuck in their dorm room every weekend studying"

you're right, i didnt have a 4.0.
your 3.63 must've come from some questionable program though, if you've still got the high school mentality that good grades = no social life.

 

[acemcmac]

the %'s he's talking about seem to be his class rank percentile sofar as I can infer.... the OP just was really really stupid about this and should have given us a number.

 

[bigalt]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
Getting way off topic. let's help SONYFX out. I've been in his shoes and it truely sucks.

Let's not help him out. He is a fatuous ass who doesn't deserve our help. If he showed an ounce of respect to anyone else, he might have had a number of productive replies. Instead he is getting what he deserves which is nothing....

he's just a kid, and he he only got put on the defensive because the first responses he got were telling him that his GPA sucks. though he might as well answer some of the questions from the people that ARE trying to help.

at harvey mudd plenty of my friends scraped their way out of academic probation (1.5-2.0) to land a job at a decent engineering firm. Like candicec said, the companies just aren't going to seek you out. Once you get into the interview, can answer some questions to their satisfaction, you're pretty much on an even platform as the 4.0 kids.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm

Originally posted by: Feldenak
All that money spent on an engineering degree and you have the social graces of a rock. Based strictly on what you've written here tonight, it's not your GPA that will keep you from getting a job....it'll be that you bomb the interview.

Certainly brings new meaning to the phrase, "You rock."

 

[bigalt]

you're right, i didnt have a 4.0.
your 3.63 must've come from some questionable program though, if you've still got the high school mentality that good grades = no social life.

unless you're at a school with big grade inflation (ivy league, stanford, rice, etc.) the highest smarts will take you is like 3.7, without applying yourself to classes. it's a simple fact that if you apply yourself to your social/athletic life, you can't spend enough time on academics to match those that don't.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: bigalt

you're right, i didnt have a 4.0.
your 3.63 must've come from some questionable program though, if you've still got the high school mentality that good grades = no social life.

unless you're at a school with big grade inflation (ivy league, stanford, rice, etc.) the highest smarts will take you is like 3.7, without applying yourself to classes. it's a simple fact that if you apply yourself to your social/athletic life, you can't spend enough time on academics to match those that don't.

if this is such a fact, where is your proof? that has to be one of the dumbest 'facts' i have ever heard ...

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: shinerburke

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: shinerburke
I have interviewed a lot of people over the last two years and I have never asked for their GPA. That's doesn't tell you jack squat really. So someone made a 4.0 and someone else made a 2.3 whop de friggen do. All that tells me is that the 4.0 person was probably stuck in their dorm room every weekend studying, and occasionally taking a break to play his Cleric in the ongoing Dungeons &amp; Dragons game his dorm floor had going, while the other guy was going to class but also found time to REALLY experience college. I get so sick of people thinking that college is just all about the classes and how you do in them. College is so much more than that. It is about experiencing life, discovering who you really are, knocking boots with every hottie you can find, learning/hearing opposing views, finding out how much you really can drink before you pass out in a pool of your own vomit, etc, etc, etc..... Bah!! What was my point? Oh yeah.....GPA shouldn't matter for sh1t if you ask me.

By the way......in case you were wondering I have multiple degrees and my overall GPA was 3.63.

that's really fair.. let's lump all 4.0 students into the loser group, cuz we all KNOW it's impossible to maintain good grades and enjoy college at the same time. god forbid there are actually smart AND outgoing people in this world.:disgust:

I'm guessing you aren't a 4.0 student since you missed my saying "All that tells me is that the 4.0 person was probably stuck in their dorm room every weekend studying"

you're right, i didnt have a 4.0.
your 3.63 must've come from some questionable program though, if you've still got the high school mentality that good grades = no social life.

B.A. in History
M.A. in History with specialization in Native American Cultures &amp; Religion
BS in Political Science
BS in Geography

Again....go back and read what I said....I said

"All that tells me is that the 4.0 person was probably stuck in their dorm room every weekend studying"

Get it....PROBABLY....I didn't say definitely or always.......how the hell did you ever get a 3.8 with no reading comprehension skills?