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Internship Inquiry

Hey All,

I had a quick question about an internship I have coming up. So for this internship I need a specific GPA, which I'm not 100% sure I will get. If I don't meet the GPA requirement, what are the chances the company will terminate my contract? As a little bit of background I did two internships with this company in high school, but there was no GPA requirement. My first one in college does have one.

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Top answer
on Apr 28, 2023
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

Q: I had a quick question about an internship I have coming up. So for this internship I need a specific GPA, which I'm not 100% sure I will get. If I don't meet the GPA requirement, what are the chances the company will terminate my contract? 

Most likely they mean the GPA you have at the time of the application. So if you had that GPA when you applied you should be fine.

If they mean the GPA once you join (which would be weird) then there is the possibility that they will stick to the requirement and withdraw the offer. However that would not make much sense, as the company itself has the incentive to extend offers well in advance. Not having interns at the last moment would be a problem for them as well.

Good luck!

Francesco

Anonymous B
on Apr 30, 2023
The thing is they're making it so that I have to submit a transcript before my internship starts, which would lead me to believe that they mean at the time I start my internship, I have this GPA.
on May 01, 2023
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
Hi there, as mentioned I cannot see clear reasons why they would need the GPA at that time and not the one when you applied. If they don’t specify a date for the transcript, I would use the one at the time of the application. If they do ask for a more recent one, I would send the updated one at that time. Good luck!
Hagen
Coach
on Apr 30, 2023
#1 recommended coach | >95% success rate | 8+ years consulting, 8+ years coaching and 7+ years interviewing experience

Hi there,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

  • First of all, if you reached the target GPA when you applied, I would advise you not to worry since the chances are very low that the employer will inquire about it again at any time in the future.
  • Moreover, however, I would still highly advise you to continue doing your best to achieve a high GPA in order to prepare well for future applications in strategy consulting.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Ian
Coach
on Apr 27, 2023
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

Please do everything you can do get that GPA requirement. Genuinely. Do everything you can.

We can't give you the answer that you want to hear.

It's possible the company will not terminate the contract. It's possible that they will. It's going to depend on what GPA is required, how far away you are from it, and, honestly, the discretion of the company themselves.

Again. Do everything you can to hit their GPA requirement.

Deleted user
on Apr 27, 2023

Hello,

I echo others' advice here to try as hard as you can to hit that GPA requirement. This is the unambiguously the best option in your case.

If you've gotten some indication of your grades and you don't think you'll hit it despite your best efforts, talk to HR/the recruiter at your firm. Be prepared to have a very good explanation for why you are unable to meet the GPA requirement, what you will do to improve your grades going forward, and stress your existing experience of interning for this company to see if they can be flexible at all. But I really wouldn't bank on this, unfortunately.

Best of luck!

7
on Apr 27, 2023
#1 rated McKinsey Coach

Hi there, 

Sorry to hear you're in this tough spot. 

We can't know what will happen. I would imagine that if you've had internships with them in the past and they know you and you've consistently delivered well, they will be more lenient, but it's also possible that they won't. 

If I were you, I'd focus on two things:

1. Do you absolute best to get the GPA you need. 

2. Apply widely. Have a look at the following guide in order to develop your application strategy:

Maximizing your chances of getting a consulting job during an economic downturn

Best,
Cristian

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