Finishing college with under a 2.5 cumulative GPA in Econ

[Anonymous]

I honestly don't know what my final GPA was - about 2.3. However, I did better in my major whch was Computer Science. I graduated in a rough time, couldn't get hired for money. Moved to DC and temped wile I looked for a job. Finally got a job through connections via a friend's parent's friend. I also had good work experience and practical skills. Tell her to be willing to start small and to network, network, network. Good workers are always valued if she can get the chance to prove herself.

[Anonymous]

At my office she probably wouldn't make it past the initial screening BUT mitigating factors would be
--stronger GPA in major
--stronger GPA in later college years

+1 to temping--could be a way to get a foot in the door.

Also +1 to master's [and FULL FOCUS on schoolwork] if possible.

[Anonymous]

Is she a hard worker? Willing to be some kind of admin? It's beneath her degree, but a good foot in the door. I had a crappy GPA in liberal arts, but got a job at a tech company. Then moved into tech work, PM work and other things. By then the LA degree didn't matter - the GPA didn't matter because I was smart, resourceful and clever. Those idiots that can study and take tests are consistently my WORST performers. I took a girl working for Starbucks during college over others, because I knew she had hustle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Will a government agency hire her? What other employment options for her field?

Thanks.

Contrary to popular belief, government agencies aren't just dumping grounds for losers like your daughter, so do please GFY.

[Anonymous]

We probably don't want to know but what is "GFY!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We probably don't want to know but what is "GFY!"

go fuck yourself

[Anonymous]

I hire people all the time. The only people who have their GPAs on their resume are the ones who have the highest ones. I have never requested a transcript. I do check references (typically a professor or two if just out of college) and verify attendance at the school. She should look at entry level jobs in the field where she wants to work. We have assistants who move up through the ranks at our large stray comm firm which includes many Econ majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hire people all the time. The only people who have their GPAs on their resume are the ones who have the highest ones. I have never requested a transcript. I do check references (typically a professor or two if just out of college) and verify attendance at the school. She should look at entry level jobs in the field where she wants to work. We have assistants who move up through the ranks at our large stray comm firm which includes many Econ majors.

PP here - good advice.

She needs to hone in on firms/industries that have less rigid recruiting practices regarding grades.

Forget about finance, banking, consulting, most federal agencies (atleast the most interesting ones), technology.

[Anonymous]

Network with athletes. There are many who understand the challenges of being a student athlete - but she needs to come across that she is not looking for a hand out.

For example, there are many LAX players in commercial real estate and banking.

[Anonymous]

Most private firms - aside from high-end consultancies etc - won't care about the GPA. Find out what she wants to do and pursue it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most private firms - aside from high-end consultancies etc - won't care about the GPA. Find out what she wants to do and pursue it.

more and more private firms are taking their recruiting cues from consultancies and banks as these two sectors have really distilled recruiting (especially UG recruiting) down to a science.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, the reason I would not hire her is because she apparently chose playing sports over academics. Some people can do both, the OP's daughter could not. Studying while at school should be a student's primary job. The OP's daughter has demonstrated that she will put what interests her the most over her job.

My advice is for her to find a masters degree program so that she can demonstrate academic success when she is focusing on one thing. I have several friends who, after spending too much time attending Phish concerts in college, did that and went on to get good jobs despite mediocre undergrad grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter will probably have a 2.3 GPA in her major Econ courses. She wants to return to the DMV and work. How will she find a job in her field? College placement might not be an option. She is looking for an unpaid internship (in Chicago) to boost her resume. She had an excellent paid internship when she had the grades at the end of her Soph year. Her math based Econ track was difficult and her cumulative GPA is low because her first major was chemistry. Additionally, she played a sport for four years at an excellent university. She would not drop sports because she is a good athlete and became captain her Jr. year.

Will a government agency hire her? What other employment options for her field?

Thanks.

if she has a 2.3 GPA in her major Econ courses, how low is her overall GPA? The post implies that she had good grades at the end of her sophomore year and that her grade when down from there. Has she considered another field of study and another degree? Her grades do not indicate that she is adept at Econ. And if she chose sports over study, that indicates that she is not particularly interested in Econ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, the reason I would not hire her is because she apparently chose playing sports over academics. Some people can do both, the OP's daughter could not. Studying while at school should be a student's primary job. The OP's daughter has demonstrated that she will put what interests her the most over her job.

My advice is for her to find a masters degree program so that she can demonstrate academic success when she is focusing on one thing. I have several friends who, after spending too much time attending Phish concerts in college, did that and went on to get good jobs despite mediocre undergrad grades.

What marketable MS/MA program that is a pipeline to good jobs will take a student with that low of a gpa?

Things are different now.

Her best shot is to leverage alums that played on her team in college who are 5-15 years older to get informational interviews and hopefully network into a position.

[Anonymous]

Well in this area, she should be at least going to grad school.

But the idea of advertising your GPA on your resume - meh, I didn't do it 20 years ago and when I review resumes now for entry level tech jobs that require a degree, I ignore it. We routinely in the office roll our eyes over those posting about their 4.0 gpa.

When you are over 40 reviewing resumes, you tend to "meh" the gpa. College was so long ago....