Transcript check

First, there's no need to apologize for asking questions; this forum is here to help with just that!

Here's a structured response to your query:

Importance of GPA: Yes, GPA does matter for consulting firms, especially the top ones like MBB. They often have a minimum GPA cut-off (typically around 3.5-3.7 on a 4.0 scale) for filtering applications. That said, GPA is only one part of your application. Firms look at a variety of factors including leadership, problem-solving skills, communication ability, relevant work experience, and extracurricular activities.

Repeating Courses: Repeating courses to improve grades is generally seen as a positive thing. It shows commitment and a willingness to improve. If you can bring your GPA up to a 3.72, it will likely put you above the cut-off for most firms.

Transcript Review: While some firms may ask for a transcript, they usually focus on the overall GPA rather than individual grades. It's unlikely recruiters would penalize you for having a few grades below an A. They understand that not every course will be a strength for every student.

Contextualizing Your GPA: If you're concerned about your GPA, you might consider providing context in your application or cover letter. You could explain why you chose to repeat courses and what you learned from the experience. However, this should be done succinctly and professionally.

Proactive Measures: Work on other aspects of your profile to make your application more attractive. This could include gaining relevant work experience, improving problem-solving skills, participating in case competitions, or leading in extracurricular activities.

In conclusion, while your GPA is important, it's not the be-all and end-all for getting into a top consulting firm. Focus on building a holistic profile and communicate your learnings and experiences effectively in your application.

Hi there,

Q: I am willing to repeat the B and C courses to obtain a gpa of 3.72. Would this cause me any troubles with recruiters, especially at MBB. 

I believe the question is the same as the previous one you asked here: https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/repeated-courses-16076

You said there that:

1. You will have to repeat the C course anyway
2. Many students take an extra semester off
3. The grades displayed will just be the last ones

Based on that you will have to repeat the C course anyway, so technically it doesn’t really matter whether this is an issue or not as you don’t have a choice.

In any case, as mentioned in the previous answer, given what you shared repeating the courses should not be an issue. If you reach 3.7+ as a GPA, that’s a quite good result and based on what you shared they won’t see the old score anyway.

Best,

Francesco

Hi there, 

Don't worry that much about GPAs. 

Realistically speaking, recruiters don't really care that much. What matters a lot more is how you position your performance and experience while your time at university. So, for instance, instead of putting there the GPA, you can mention one course or one project in which you had a distinctive performance or you performed within the top x% of the cohort. That's what the recruiter will see and as a consequence that is the perception that they will have about you. 

So instead of trying to increase your GPA, rather try to create as many ‘spikes’ as you can in your performance so you can ‘point’ to them in your application for consulting firms. 

I wrote at length about how to approach this application process in the most strategic way in the guide below:

• Maximising your chances of getting a consulting job during an economic downturn

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

The higher the GPA the better.

A 3.7 GPA is a good GPA that would pass MBB screening.

I would personally retake the C course but not the B courses (unless you can retake 1-2 B courses without affecting your graduation date)

Hi,

it sounds like you worry a lot about things you have no control over at this point:

• All of your grades you ever recorded being shown on your final transcript (as you indicated)
• You having to retake your C course because that's how your school works (you said previously)
• You needing 3 semesters to graduate instead of 2 (because of having to retake a course)

If you get a final GPA of 3.7 or higher, that is usually fine if your overall CV looks good as well. I'm not aware of a situation in which recruiters would get hung up about courses or grades that do not count towards the final average - the official GPA matters.

But even if that was different, would that stop you from applying to MBB altogether? Even if you had a GPA of 4.0 your competition would still be stiff. 

Therefore, start focusing on the things you can control. Make sure you get the best grades possible when retaking the courses, network with consulting firms to ideally secure an internal referral when you apply, have your CV and cover letter polished emphasizing many reasons (aside from GPA) as to why you would be a great hire for them, don't get bogged down in things you cannot control.

Best of luck