Internships/jobs without strong GPA

[Anonymous]

My DS is a sophomore at a well regarded business school. He messed around his freshman year and had a passing but low GPA. He is doing better this year and is bringing his GPA up but I don't see him having the 3.2 GPA by mid-junior year that so many companies require for interns during junior year summer. Has anyone's kid had a low GPA and been able to get solid internship opportunities?

[Anonymous]

My DC is having trouble finding paid internships with over a 3.9 at an excellent school. It seems they think people shold work for free unless they are an engineering major. He is amath major and looking for research opportunities.

[Anonymous]

This is why you use your own networks to arrange unpaid internships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why you use your own networks to arrange unpaid internships.

. How do you get the paid ones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a sophomore at a well regarded business school. He messed around his freshman year and had a passing but low GPA. He is doing better this year and is bringing his GPA up but I don't see him having the 3.2 GPA by mid-junior year that so many companies require for interns during junior year summer. Has anyone's kid had a low GPA and been able to get solid internship opportunities?

The business school should have career/placement services. Your DS should seek the assistance of its director. Many companies come to campus to recruit business students for summer internships (all paid-internships) and for full-time recruitment of Seniors. If your DS is doing well (at least 3.7 in each semester past Freshman year) he should have a decent shot at a good but not excellent paid-internship. Investment banks and consulting companies look for high GPAs so they, in theory, are out. Your DS should also send out resumes on his own and not totally rely on campus recruiting. GL to your DS.

[Anonymous]

Who do you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who do you know?

Ha! Probably what we will need to do. He won't have a 3.7 this year- more like a 3.5 if he is consistent for the next 6 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I would list his freshman and sophomore GPA's separately on the resume so the current performance is known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why you use your own networks to arrange unpaid internships.

. How do you get the paid ones?

Through the parents’ jobs and networks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who do you know?

Ha! Probably what we will need to do. He won't have a 3.7 this year- more like a 3.5 if he is consistent for the next 6 weeks.

A 3.5 is an overall B+ grade. He is on an upward trajectory. Also, the first year courses aren't all that important business courses, mostly required general courses. He should continue to do his best in courses, make best use of career/placement services, contact alumni for interviews leading to internships, send resumes to companies that don't plan on visiting the campus. Usually the career services would post on bulletin board information on internship/full-time job opportunities with companies that will not visit campus. Your DS should also make use of career services database to contact companies by cold calling, sending resume. Time is short so he should widen his geographic search.

[Anonymous]

By this time of year, most internships have been long-filled. Applications for many of the think tanks were due back in mid-December. Seriously, do you know anyone in the field you can call and beg?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who do you know?

Ha! Probably what we will need to do. He won't have a 3.7 this year- more like a 3.5 if he is consistent for the next 6 weeks.

Grades don’t really matter that much when you know people who can give your kid an internship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why you use your own networks to arrange unpaid internships.

. How do you get the paid ones?

Through the parents’ jobs and networks.

. Our networks do not help with research institutions.

[Anonymous]

OP - Is there some professor on campus - or some office on campus - who could use your son for an "internship". I know of some students who picked up last minute internships that way - but he's going to have to go ask department heads, placement office and his professors.

[Anonymous]

OP here- thanks for the responses. He isn't looking for an internship this coming summer, it's the summer following his junior year that he wants to have an internship. He is aware that he will need to work on getting summer 2020 internship secured soon after he starts his junior year. This summer he will work waiting tables and make as much $ as he can.