| Topic Name: |
Making up for poor grades |
| Message Name: |
i agree |
| Date Posted: |
03/28/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
Reading these posts I can see both sides of the argument. The 3.3 cut off seems reasonable enough. The 3.8 avg seems a little harsh...I wonder if they account for majors/classes taken when comparing GPAs. In my book, a 3.9 in Econ or History ain't even a 3.5 in Engineering. Also, with a huge focus on GPAs, you might be taking somewhat of a booksmart crowd, but maybe that's what they're looking for, or maybe they weed them out in interviews. Who knows?
I didn't get an interview out of undergrad either. My reason is the classic "I didn't know what it took." But this is the God's honest truth. I finished my last 2 years with just under a 3.8 in Engineering, but it wasn't enough. I hardly think, this shows a lack of forethought or drive or whatever. People are human and the expectation that an 18 year old is going to know what career, much less what company, he wants to pursue is pretty ridiculous. Unless you have some insider filling you in on the hot jobs or parents pushing you to work for McKinsey (and these people are out there), this is something most 18 year olds aren't looking for. By the time I had figured out what I wanted and what it took (ie after 2 years) it was too late.
I KNOW I could "do the job" at McK or any other strat firm as buddies of mine who couldn't hang with me in anything, particularly in the classroom got offers. But I give them credit, as they gave 4 years of effort, got a little lucky, and they were rewarded. If I'm still interested, maybe I'll apply after grad school. Hopefully, 2 years of college and a subsequent mediocre (3.4ish) GPA won't haunt me.
While I was begging for an interview in undergrad, I see the McK-ites' points. It just doesn't make sense to interview everyone for a small program like the BA program, even if it means missing a few "diamonds in the rough." As the positions become more important (Associate and up) I think you probably see more emphasis on other things, like experience and success in the real world. Perhaps, this is why they give so many interviews at the MBA level? Just my thoughts having been under the McK knife. |
| Message: |
What I really don't understand is why you don't look at the majors that these 3.8s choose? I graduated from a top liberal arts school with a major in Economics and Computer Science and a 3.5 and with plenty of other ECs etc. but didn't even get an interview with Mck while some of my classmates who took much easier econ classes than I did got a chance with their 3.7s.. My 3.5 is worth as much as these 3.7s and definitely more, I would even argue. But did it help me to push myself in college? NO!!! My advice is to take the easiest classes you can and get those As. Sad but true.
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