| Topic Name: |
Specific GPA question |
| Message Name: |
GPA is not a good determinant of success / intelligence |
| Date Posted: |
02/01/2006 |
| In Reply To: |
If my GPA is not that impressive (low 3.0 range), but my other resume points are very very spot-on (not bragging, heard from recruiters), is it to my benefit to put my "education" section at the bottom of the page so that recruiters read through the page first then hit the GPA and are *hopefully* like, "well, maybe we can ask him at the interview"? (I have a pretty good reason for it, but I don't think it's appropriate for the cover letter.) Or are they just going to jump to the GPA anyway and say "nope, no thanks."
FYI, I go to a very well-known (and very well-known to be difficult) university and am a student in arguably the toughest major there, but I realize that's not a valid reason for a low GPA. Just wanted your opinion on what to do.
Oh yeah, please assume that the people that review my resume will also have access to my transcript to verify my GPA on the spot (not that I'd cheat, I'm saying there is no point to leaving it off the resume because they could just check). |
| Message: |
I have a situation similar to "boardposter". I have a low GPA, but not because i'm an alcoholic, or that I goofed off, or anything else. I went to a top engineering school (#1 in my field), and was simultaneously working my way through school at a full time job. Some of the unique experiences and accomplishments that I am proud to have on my resume, I am quite sure few people have on theirs. Among those accomplishments, I managed to complete my degree within 3 years, paid for my tuition entirely on my own (no financial aid), and still pull a decent GPA (low 3s).
I'm not trying to come off arrogant, but it is seriously frustrating when people equate GPA with accomplishment, because its just not the case. I know many people who have aced tests and later couldnt explain anything they studied. On the other hand, i've seen people who could explain and intuitively understand a subject, get snowed on an exam for one reason or another. While I am not defending the practice of getting low GPAs, i'm just saying that GPA is a poor indicator of real performance.
How do you compare a 4.0 GPA in a soft science, with a 3.0 GPA in a hard science/engineering field? I don't mean to spark a debate about who is smarter or anything -- that is just silly and I have all the respect in the world for the intelligence and capability of people in social science degrees or liberal arts. I can certainly see the value of what history majors have dedicated themselves to -- because it takes a certain type of genius and passion to understand and relate together world-events (political or otherwise) that comprise human history. I learned how fascinating history / economics were only after I finished graduate school. By the same token, one simply cannot compare those GPAs with those of engineering majors, because it's comparing apples and oranges (And *no* its not equivalent to comparing a rotten apple (3.0) with a fresh ripe orange (4.0) either, the analogy is meant to be limited).
Now, beside this rant, getting back to the practical issue of moving your resume to the top of that holy stack of potential interviewees -- how do you do that when you apply online? or randomly email the jobs@blahblah.com with your cover letter and resume. Would it help to know contacts/mentors within the target company who could "pop" the stack a bit through their own personal opinion of you or whatever? What would you guys suggest?
Should the issue of low GPA be discussed at all on the cover letter? or should it be brought up at the interview? should it be volunteered, or casually discussed if brought up? In the interests of putting one's "best foot forward"... what is appropriate way to handle these cases?
IMO: A consulting firm interested in "hiring the best" would be doing itself a great disservice I would think if it was that dry in its hiring/evaluation.
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