Applying to Consulting with Low GPA

Question

I've been receiving feedback from several upperclassmen and peers at my school that I have little to no realistic chance of being a strategy consultant at a top firm (MBB, Tier 2, Big4) straight out of undergrad with my GPA. As consulting deadlines approach, I find myself wondering if they're really right and if I am wasting my time applying.

To give you some context, I am a rising senior at a LAC that ranks quite consistently within the top7 on college ranking websites (think Bowdoin/Claremont McKenna/Wellesley), and I have a double major in economics and political science. My resume is nothing super impressive: I have a variety of experiences ranging from working with political campaigns and non-profits to private equity (search fund) and hackathons, but none were with big-name companies.

My cumulative GPA as of now is 3.15, and my major GPA is somewhere around 3.5. I am confident that I can/will bring these up by the time I graduate, but these are unfortunately the GPAs that I will be applying to jobs with. I currently only list my major GPA on my resume, but I am aware that some firms like Deloitte and KPMG straight up require a transcript with my application, meaning they will see my poor cumulative GPA anyways. I'd greatly appreciate if anyone can answer the following questions for me:

1. What are the approximate implicit GPA cutoffs for some of the major consulting firms? And if a firm has a GPA requirement of at least a 3.0 on the job description, is it REALLY possible that a candidate can be competitive with, for example, a 3.01 (any GPA that barely floats over the limit)? Is an applicant auto-rejected if he/she does not meet the limit?
2. Does GPA matter once you're in the interview stage?
3. (Deloitte specific) An alumni in Deloitte with the rank of a "client executive" was generous enough to promise me a referral. How high-ranking of a position is this role in the Deloitte corporate hierarchy?
4. Can anyone give me their stories or insights on how they navigated around a low undergrad GPA to land a role at a top consulting firm?

Answer 1

Hi there,

Thanks for the context.

In short, yes, your credentials are not top of the top, but that doesn't mean you can't get into consulting. It just means that the probability of joining directly MBB is lower.

If I were in your shoes, and I don't recommend this only to you, I'd see the entire application process as a portfolio. Meaning, apply to multiple firms, do your best with each of them at each stage of the application process, and try to progress with as many of them to the final interview stage and then offer.

Even with some of the smaller firms with which you might have a stronger chance, something can happen in the interview process and you fail. Similarly, with the firms you didn't expect to get past an interview, it might work. You get to minimise this randomness by actually having a bigger sample of firms to interview with.

You might find this guide helpful as well:
Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

Best,
Cristian

Answer 2

It's hard to say for sure without looking at your resume.

If you're from a target/semi-target, a very strong CV can potentially outweigh a slightly below-par GPA. Academic performance is indeed important, but not the absolute be-all and end-all of your application.

If I were you, I would focus on really honing your CV so that the core qualities they are looking for (leadership, personal impact, entrepreneurial drive etc.) are very clear.

To answer your questions directly:

1) I am not sure that there are strict 'GPA cutoffs' as you put it, but the majority of MBB applicants will have a high GPA.

2) No. For most firms, once you have an interview, your CV and academic background is not too important. If you can ace the interviews, you should be able to get an offer.

3) My understanding is that this is not a particularly high ranking position. In fact, I am not sure that this is even a consulting role. It looks more like a sales or 'key account management' type of role. I could be wrong though.

4) I have seen several of my colleagues at McKinsey with less-than-stellar academic backgrounds succeed. It's certainly a minority of people, but they all over-indexed on demonstrating their leadership and personal impact achievements. Happy to talk more.

Hope this helps, and maybe some other coaches will also shed some light.

Answer 3

Hi there,

You’re asking the right questions, and it's clear you're approaching this with thought and persistence—don’t let others discourage you too early.

1. GPA cutoffs
MBB and Tier 2 firms typically look for 3.5+, especially from target schools. Big 4 firms like Deloitte or KPMG often list 3.0 as a minimum, and yes—a 3.01 can still be considered. It's not an automatic rejection if the rest of your profile is strong, especially with a referral.

2. Once you’re interviewing
GPA stops being a factor. From that point on, your case and fit performance carry the most weight. Many people with lower GPAs have landed offers by excelling in interviews.

3. Deloitte referral
A “Client Executive” is a senior, director-level role. Having someone at that level vouch for you is a strong advantage—use that referral.

4. Getting in with a low GPA
It’s been done. Key things that help:

A clear story about why consulting
Highlighting major GPA, an upward trend, or relevant coursework
Networking and referrals to bypass GPA filters
Outstanding case/fit interview performance

With your school, major GPA, and the range of experiences you’ve built, you’re absolutely not wasting your time. Focus on telling your story, prep thoroughly, and apply widely.

You’ve got more working in your favor than you think—happy to help review your resume or practice a pitch if you'd like.

Best,

Evelina

Answer 4

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

First of all, GPA cutoffs vary by firm, region, country, and sometimes office. As a general rule, most strategy consulting firms aim for a GPA of at least 3.5, while Big Four firms may have slightly lower cutoffs. If you meet the cutoff just like that, you won't be automatically rejected, but the rest of your profile really needs to stand out.
Moreover, once you're invited to interviews, your application files no longer matter. At that point, it's about how well you perform in the interviews.
Lastly, I can't compare the role of client executive to strategy consulting roles, but "executive" implies a management role, which should carry weight.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen