Poor undergrad GPA, solid Master's GPA

Hi there,

In my view, most people stand a chance. The question is always how much of a chance.

Then, the question becomes how do I maximize my chances?

Make sure to do the following:

1. Aim to build your resume with strategy-related items (do some part-time pro bono consulting, get Tableau/Excel/VBA certification, etc.)
2. Build your resume up (ideally get it professionally reviewed)
3. Network extensively when you are ready to apply

Good luck!

In my experience, the overall trendline is important to paint the picture here. From what it sounds like, you have been continuously improving since your undergrad. You also managed to get into your master's program and land your previous jobs “despite” your undergrad GPA. So in a sense, whatever happened during undergrad in terms of grades is water under the bridge. I would say you need to think of compelling reasons as to why you believe you can add value to a consulting firm. What is it that you learned/did over the last years that would make you an asset for each consulting team? On the upside, you might also be able to leverage your undergrad experience to tell some credible stories as to how you dealt with setbacks/failures and what you learned from them. No matter the setup, don't sell yourself short!

Hello,

I think it's certainly worth a shot, and think that networking your way in would be your best bet. The good master's degree should really help here. Prepare to answer any questions about your undergrad, including why your grades were poor. But I don't think that a lower GPA in undergrad is a no-go, given your master's degree and industry experience, so I think there's nothing stopping you from giving recruiting a try if you are interested!

Your undergrad GPA is the least important thing in there. You had a solid performance in a good master, and that has a much higher weight. 

As such, while not a spotless resume, you do have a chance. 

You do have a chance but primarily if you are currently at a target school and at a program where they recruit from heavily. MBB tend to largely recruit from certain schools and majors at least in the US and not being in those programs makes it very difficult to get in and will require a lot of networking on your end.

Having a good masters degree is a real help here - the challenge you’ll have is explaining to recruiters why your undergrad was not good. You’ll have to network your way in - I suggest going to all the recruiting events you can find and explaining your situation to the team so that they look out for your resume. Good luck!