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Include GPA for an undergraduate application?

Hello,

I am an engineering major with a minor in statistics looking to break into consulting. 

For my application I plan to hide my major GPA, which is 3.0 / 4.0. I believe my work experience and winning multiple competitions/hackathons will highlight me better.

 Should I include it, or will it give me a disadvantage?

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Udayan
Coach
on Dec 06, 2021
Top Rated MBB coach | 300+ Real MBB offers | McKinsey Engagement Manager in NYC |15 Years Interviewing Experience

As an undergraduate, hiding your GPA will look suspicious. Interviewers know that only candidates with low GPAs don't want to talk about it. Additionally, the application portal will anyway ask for your GPA so it will have to be entered in one form or another.

A better approach is to have your GPA in there and use your cover letter to highlight your additional accomplishments. Unfortunately, with a low GPA you will need to rely a lot more on networking to get an interview invite vs just submitting an application online.

After you have 4-5 years of work experience you can stop worrying about the GPA

Best,

Udayan

Deleted user
on Dec 05, 2021

Yep, no need to put if you have other areas (work experience etc) to show your full skill set.

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Pedro
Coach
on Dec 05, 2021
BAIN | EY-P | Most Senior Coach @ Preplounge | Former Principal | FIT & PEI Expert

If it doesn't suggest strong analytical ability and work ethic, better to hide it, as it will suggest the opposite.

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Ian
Coach
on Dec 05, 2021
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

Your instinct is correct - you definitely want to hide it!