Hello!
I've asked this to a couple coaches already but I'm looking for some more reassurance and clarity.
I have a PhD in chemistry and 10 years of experience across a few different industries.
5 years in scientific instrumentation sales.
3 years teaching one class per week at UCLA.
1 year full time scientist at UCLA.
4 years at three different startups.
Neither of my degrees are from target schools and my GPA isn’t stellar. PhD GPA is okay at 3.4 (graduated 2013). Undergrad GPA is dreadful at 2.9, however I graduated in 2006. For reference, I grew up in one of the poorest parts of the US with horrible secondary school education, so it took me a long time to figure things out.
I was able to obtain a McKinsey referral and applied (US) this past Friday (April 28). The McKinsey application asks for most recent degree and undergrad degree. I put both and the field for GPA is required so I put that as well.
A few questions:
1/ Are there any automatic filters that would filter out my application?
2/ Should I be worried about my undergrad GPA given I graduated 17 years ago?
3/ It is worth withdrawing my McKinsey application and resubmitting without my undergrad degree on there? Would this somehow flag me or remove my referral?
I’ll also be applying to others but this is my first referral, and McKinsey is my goal.
Bonus question: I've been looking at some of the non-MBB firms. Are there no generalist positions? It seems that they are all extremely specific and nothing I'd be qualified for and/or interested in.