Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about the rejection from Strategy&!

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, in general, applications are assessed holistically, both within the same application file, i.e., the resume in this case, and across application files, i.e., also considering a potential referral and the cover letter.
• Moreover, while I can completely understand your ambition to control the situation, I would highly advise you not to do so since you essentially no longer control it.
• Lastly, while you cannot improve your Bachelor's GPA anymore, you can ensure that you submit the best possible application, including polished application files and a strong referral. As such, I would advise you to consider reaching out to an experienced coach to review your application files.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

Q: How much would my low undergrad GPA affect my chances?

It may have an impact, but that doesn't really matter in terms of your strategy as you can't do anything about it. What you can do is strengthen the rest of your application.

Possible tips specifically for the low GPA:

1. Don’t put the undergrad GPA in your CV unless they explicitly ask for it
2. Leverage a referral for all possible companies as you correctly did for BCG and Bain

For general suggestions on the application material, you can check the following:

▶ How to Get a Consulting Interview Invitation

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

Look, you can't control it, right? This is in the past and ther eis not rectifying action take.

So, try not to worry about it. You've done what you can and you just have to see where the die land.

All this said…I think you should be ok here. Any new degree has the effect of essentially “over-riding” (to an extend) the previous one. A referral for both Bain and BCG is fantastic as well.

If the undergrad was 2 years ago, I'm a little more concerned. If it's 4, 5, 6 years ago I'm less concerned.

Essentially, the more time (and experience/roles/degrees) between you and the undergrad GPA, the better.

Good luck to you!

Hello A,

While a low undergraduate GPA can be a concern for consulting firms, having strong referrals from Bain and BCG can definitely help in your application. It's great that you have a prestigious European B-school Masters's degree and strong extracurriculars, which can also add value to your application. I would suggest highlighting these strengths in your application and ensuring your resume and cover letter are tailored to the consulting industry. 

It's also a good idea to take the GMAT and make sure that your score is high. This can be a great addition to your CV and can potentially balance out the relatively low grades.  

Best of luck with your applications!

Hi there,

yes, GPAs matter. However, you cannot change them anymore. I.e., focus on prepping your cover letter & CV and highlight the achievements you mentioned.

Good luck

Andreas

Hi there,

it sounds like you are showing an upwards trajectory of your GPA which is a good thing. The low undergrad GPA is not ideal but it is what it is now. 

You are doing the right thing by taking the referral route. Of course there are no guarantees, especially in the current market environment. But it will increase your chances a lot compared to just applying online. I presume you have applied to Strategy& without a referral?

Best of luck

A big thing to note is that this year unfortunately is just a very difficult one for recruitment in consulting. MBB are delaying start dates by up to a year for a lot of candidates.  This matters because with hiring severely lower, many people that otherwise would have gotten invited to interview are no longer being considered. 
 

You did not mention which B School you're at but if it is a target school I highly recommend reaching out to alumni to get a sense of the hiring environment and build a network for referrals. 

(edited)

Hello,

Between your referrals for Bain and BCG (which, by the way, is super impressive and will be very helpful!), solid Master's GPA, and strong extracurriculars that you can speak about, I don't think undergrad GPA should matter too much, in the sense that it alone should not outweigh everything else. I would maybe prepare an explanation for why it's low just in case you get asked about it, but I wouldn't let it deter you from applying!