Reply to Is U Chicago worth cost over in-state UVA?

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[quote=Anonymous]My UofC kid was offered a TA job w/o providing a transcript.  Prof with whom DC had taken the course asked DC to do it, so he knew DC and DC’s ability in that context.  Presumably he didn’t care about DC’s grades in other classes.  Similar deal with a lab position (based on a proposal and a prior project with a different prof).  Applications for internships may have involved unofficial transcripts and/or related courses and overall GPA listed on CV or application form.  DC has good grades so not sure, in that context, the extent to which that translated into opportunities (vs match between DC’s interest and a PI willing to take on a mentorship role).

Not really sure this stuff is resume building per se.  Grad school will depend on recs.  PhD programs do not care if you have no teaching experience coming in.  Research experience will matter, but again, more as the basis for a recommendation than as work experience per se.  And senior thesis could matter as much/more than lab assistance gig.

I guess it’s all so intertwined that I find it hard to see GPA as determinative.  I do know that as a prof doing graduate admissions (PhD in non STEM field), recs/undergrad schools and mentors/statement of interest/writing samples were what I paid attention to.  Being an excellent student isn't always a good predictor of being a good researcher (or teacher, for that matter).

Presumably some employers with an abundance of applicants for entry level jobs to be filled by BAs use GPAs to decide who gets an interview.  But most are not just going to hire the applicant with the highest grades — you interview to see who seems capable, motivated, likely to be a good colleague in a particular work environment.  And if you do on-campus interviews and aren’t oversubscribed, wouldn’t you just look at everyone who expressed interest?[/quote]

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