Hi there,

So, first of all, a 3.3 GPA is by no means a deal breaker. Yes, we'd like it to be better, but you're not out of the running just because of this.

The consultants that you have reached out have provided their advice, and in my view it is reasonable.

I agree applying earlier rather than later makes sense, but not in mid/late December without a referral….

Network a ton and line up referrals to these firms. Once you have referrals and/or indications that hiring is picking up at the specific firm/office, then apply!

^this should be what determines when you apply, not grades.

Hi there,

This is indeed an interesting question which is probably relevant for a lot of users, thus I am happy to provide my perspective on it:

• It sounds like you are in a difficult situation, and I can understand why you are unsure of how to proceed. Based on the information you have provided, I would recommend attaching your undergraduate transcripts along with your CFA L1 results to your application, as this is the advice you have received from senior consultants who have emphasized the importance of applying early.
• In your cover letter, you can explain that you are currently completing a master's degree at a top school and that you expect to receive strong grades in your first term. You can also highlight any relevant experience or achievements you have gained, such as passing the CFA L1 exam, to demonstrate your potential as a candidate.
• If you are selected for an interview, you can provide your updated transcripts at that time. This will give you the opportunity to showcase your performance in your master's program and provide the hiring team with a more complete picture of your academic background.
• In summary, I would advise you to prioritize the timely submission of your application and explain any potential weaknesses in your academic record in your cover letter, rather than wait for your updated transcripts to be available.

In case you want a more detailed discussion on what to do in your specific situation, please feel free to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hello,

Here are my thoughts:

1) The GPA is not really that important provided since you said that you have ‘good experience at a reputable firm’

2) I would go with Option 1, as applying early is better. You can highlight that you will share the upcoming transcripts a bit later in your cover letter. Don't spend too much time talking about it though.

Let me know if you need any help with your cover letters/application, happy to help :)

All the best!

Rushabh

Hi there,

Go for Option 2. 

The risk of being filtered out based on low GPA outweighs any delay you might face by potentially missing the January deadline.

Recruitment is generally continuous and you can always apply later to make a good first impression with a high GPA - even if incomplete and for part of your studies only, it's going to be a very important data point showing an upward trajectory.

Hope this helps. Best of luck!

Moritz

Hi there,

if you have spoken to senior consultants at the firm who are in the same office you are intending to apply to, then you should heed their advice. Presumably they know best.

I don't think you have shared which company you want to apply to so the answers here might be based on everyone's own experiences across different companies. 

In Europe and North America, not much is happening in the second half of December in terms of recruiting and a lot of consulting firms are on year-end shutdown anyway. So in this case, there wouldn't be much to gain by submitting the application now versus in January. This might be different in the Middle East, however, so listen to the people with first hand experience.

To compensate for your GPA, you should try to get a referral from one of those people you have spoken to.

Best of luck

(edited)

Hey there,

I would go for option 2 as

• The end of the year is always the worst time to apply
• you don't want to compete with low grades in the current slow-down recruiting environment

Be aware that things such as a CFA L1 count very little in a consulting context.

Rather, I would focus on networking and getting referrals for early next year, then send out your application.

All the best,

Florian

There is no reason to be worried.

You can write in your CV your average for the first semester of your master. You can also mention your CFA in your CV.

Just be aware that CFA L1 is quite useless, it is just a course (targeted at finance professionals and not consultants). 

Your cover letter should be targeted at showing your fit with the firm and your strengths, instead of defending on your weaknesses. 

Hi there,

Q: I'm aiming to apply for the middle east office, which has a set deadline on 28 Jan. No transcripts are out until maybe a week into Jan. I fear if I wait until new transcripts are out, I may be late in applying. I don't really know what to do.

Are some of the people that suggested to apply now willing to refer you? If so, I think it could make sense to apply now:

1. If they all suggested to do so, they probably know now it’s a good time in terms of recruiting
2. Their referral could compensate for the low grades
3. You mentioned you have good assignment grades. You could add that to the CV, explaining they are mid-term results, to further compensate for the low grades

If you haven't found a referral yet, I would look for one and apply with that. You can find more on referrals at the links below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

Good luck!

Francesco

I had like a 2.8 GPA in my undergrad, 1 year of work experience and a year until i completed my masters with Bs all around. I'm starting at mckinsey next month as a junior specialist. Just take the recommendations of the seniors since they know more. That is my opinion.