Getting Started with Low GPA

[Anonymous]

raptorsxyz wrote:I graduated with a pretty low GPA, under 3.0, from a highly ranked school this year with a polisci degree. Any tips post-graduation to eventually head toward a high-earning career? Everyone is telling me law school and grad school is out of the question. I haven't had much internships, but I have had a lot of substantive summer jobs that show I have some work ethic. I'm also a really good communicator and I think a person that people enjoy being around. I have been networking etc, just looking for further advice. I also really want to move to NYC.

P.S. - PM me if anyone would like to talk about any more specific directions, but can't doxx yourself on an online forum

Plenty of law schools will accept you, such as Southwestern Texas School of Law, Regent University Law, etc. A degree from such an institution will open the opportunity to serve as deli assistant manager with a 50 cent raise after 6 months and a week’s vacation after a year.

[Anonymous]

Fed position? Policy wonk type.

[Anonymous]

Apply for local/state/fed govt jobs.

[Anonymous]

1pg resume and leave your gpa off of it. Not having internships is worse than a 3.0 tho imo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fed position? Policy wonk type.

What is a policy wonk fed? I’ve never worked for the government so curious.

[Anonymous]

raptorsxyz wrote:I graduated with a pretty low GPA, under 3.0, from a highly ranked school this year with a polisci degree. Any tips post-graduation to eventually head toward a high-earning career? Everyone is telling me law school and grad school is out of the question. I haven't had much internships, but I have had a lot of substantive summer jobs that show I have some work ethic. I'm also a really good communicator and I think a person that people enjoy being around. I have been networking etc, just looking for further advice. I also really want to move to NYC.

P.S. - PM me if anyone would like to talk about any more specific directions, but can't doxx yourself on an online forum

You attended a highly ranked school and yet have a problem with employment, you just wasted your parents' money for doing such.  The idea of attending a highly ranked school is to get connections so that you can get jobs after graduation, even with a low GPA.

My DS attended a highly ranked school, I am not going to say which one but along the line of University of Chicago.  He also studied PS and had a low 2.5 GPA, due to excessive partying but he was a frat member and one of his frat buddy parents got him a job after graduation.  That was five years ago and he recently got promoted to Senior director of Human Resource. 
 
You should have established networking during your time in college.  That's the whole idea of attending a highly ranked school.  Since you didn't or couldn't make it happen, it is on you and you have to deal with the aftermath.  it becomes much harder after you graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

raptorsxyz wrote:I graduated with a pretty low GPA, under 3.0, from a highly ranked school this year with a polisci degree. Any tips post-graduation to eventually head toward a high-earning career? Everyone is telling me law school and grad school is out of the question. I haven't had much internships, but I have had a lot of substantive summer jobs that show I have some work ethic. I'm also a really good communicator and I think a person that people enjoy being around. I have been networking etc, just looking for further advice. I also really want to move to NYC.

P.S. - PM me if anyone would like to talk about any more specific directions, but can't doxx yourself on an online forum

You attended a highly ranked school and yet have a problem with employment, you just wasted your parents' money for doing such.  The idea of attending a highly ranked school is to get connections so that you can get jobs after graduation, even with a low GPA.

My DS attended a highly ranked school, I am not going to say which one but along the line of University of Chicago.  He also studied PS and had a low 2.5 GPA, due to excessive partying but he was a frat member and one of his frat buddy parents got him a job after graduation.  That was five years ago and he recently got promoted to Senior director of Human Resource. 
 
You should have established networking during your time in college.  That's the whole idea of attending a highly ranked school.  Since you didn't or couldn't make it happen, it is on you and you have to deal with the aftermath.  it becomes much harder after you graduate.

I think OP is aware that it is going to be harder for them, you didn’t need to say that. OP is still young presumably and seems relatively motivated. They’ll survive. I don’t think it’s the end of the world like you’re saying it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

raptorsxyz wrote:I graduated with a pretty low GPA, under 3.0, from a highly ranked school this year with a polisci degree. Any tips post-graduation to eventually head toward a high-earning career? Everyone is telling me law school and grad school is out of the question. I haven't had much internships, but I have had a lot of substantive summer jobs that show I have some work ethic. I'm also a really good communicator and I think a person that people enjoy being around. I have been networking etc, just looking for further advice. I also really want to move to NYC.

P.S. - PM me if anyone would like to talk about any more specific directions, but can't doxx yourself on an online forum

You attended a highly ranked school and yet have a problem with employment, you just wasted your parents' money for doing such.  The idea of attending a highly ranked school is to get connections so that you can get jobs after graduation, even with a low GPA.

My DS attended a highly ranked school, I am not going to say which one but along the line of University of Chicago.  He also studied PS and had a low 2.5 GPA, due to excessive partying but he was a frat member and one of his frat buddy parents got him a job after graduation.  That was five years ago and he recently got promoted to Senior director of Human Resource. 
 
You should have established networking during your time in college.  That's the whole idea of attending a highly ranked school.  Since you didn't or couldn't make it happen, it is on you and you have to deal with the aftermath.  it becomes much harder after you graduate.

Troll. Nobody graduates from UChicago with a 2.5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trade associations is a great tip I overlooked that, will def research. Don’t know if the admin job is really in my field of interest

Yeah, well, you have to start somewhere.

[Anonymous]

What were your summer jobs?

I had exactly a 3.01 when I graduated UVA many years ago. I had a horrible transition to college, I honestly was not ready to go when I started and had terrible anxiety that tanked my grades.

BUT - what I did focus on was summer internships. I worked my ass off to network and get them, and landed one all three summers. That allowed me to leave my GPA off my resume and have people focus on my internships and leadership positions in college.

OP - what are you bringing to the table? I would remove this idea that at this moment you are going to get a job in a high-paying field. You should focus more on getting your foot in the door anywhere that can teach you skills that will set you up for other positions down the line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1pg resume and leave your gpa off of it. Not having internships is worse than a 3.0 tho imo

Covid left many kids with less internship wise than at other times.

[Anonymous]

Sales

[Anonymous]

Did you post this in the Harvard subreddit too? Saw a very similar post there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yea OP here, there are lots of different levels and types of consulting and a lot are done by recent grads. Also, I think I might have a shot with a small local firms, it’s just the boozes and deloittes that won’t take me at this point

You could try applying to 2nd/3rd tier firms like RSM, BDO, Grant Thornton, KPMG (which it is for consulting)

[Anonymous]

Defense contractors