How important is GPA in the real world?

[AnimeKnight]

I will be graduating (crossing my finger) next quarter with an International Relation major.. and I am starting to get worry about my future prospects... My GPA is really low because all I did was goof around in college I regretted now but there is no way for me to pull it up now. I have no experience in International Relation related work.. I have been a computer tech for the last 2 1/2 years and been working as a teller for 3 years.
I would like to get a job that relates to my major the only thing that I am worry about is my GPA because I have heard from my friends that they ask for GPA and stuff. Any suggestions? comments?

 

[DannyLove]

having the degree and having the experience is what I believe really counts

your GPA is what got you the degree so i see it as a pass or no pass type situation.

danny~!

 

[OrByte]

Experiance/Degree count.

GPA doesn't.

 

[BlueApple]

It shouldn't be that important, calm down.

 

[GoldenBear]

Well say it's down to you and someone else for a job, you went to equivalent universities, have the same amount of experience..he has a 3.8, and you have a 2.8 or whatever..who do you think they'll pick?

 

[b0mbrman]

Yep, you need it to get into your major though...and to apply for grad school

 

[ajskydiver]

GPA isn't everything...but some of the larger corporations tend to automatically eliminate candidates below certain GPA ranges...

However, depending on your personality and charisma, you may be able to get them to overlook your low GPA, but that can be tough.

The key is getting an interview...if you can get one, you can explain why you got a low GPA (family tragedy, sickness, supporting yourself through college, working, etc.) and be more of a real person instead of a BS with low GPA.

Good luck.

~AJ

 

[Fuzzmuncher]

Hmm, not at all from my experience.

No one asked me my GPA

No one even cared that I had 2 majors.

No one cared that I had another minor.

My interviewer talked about aquarium fish and paintball.

 

[StageLeft]

It opens some doors at the start. You'll never be a medical doctor with a 2.0, just as you'll never get into lawschool without a good GPA (unless you're older and they waive requirements).

Other than certain specific fields it does not matter. I have never been asked for mine and if anybody asked me what I got for a GPA in university I'd laugh at them and tell them they had to be kidding me.

So in short: In fields where GPA counts yes it definitely matters, such as getting a PHD or med school,etc. For other fields once you have your degree you'll never have to think about your GPA again.

 

[ElFenix]

according to my roommate no company he would want to work for would do a GPA cutoff, which is convenient considering his GPA.

 

[OrByte]

If it came down to two prospective employees with exact same qualifications the employer would choose the one with more charisma and personality and the person who looks like they can be more productive.

If that is you then Don't worry about it.

 

[ShadowHunter]

GPA's are great for scholarships, honor society's (which can be good on resumes), etc. They're more for help during school then out, but hardly worthless, especially if you have a high one.

 

[AnimeKnight]

<< Experiance/Degree count.
GPA doesn't.
>>



Problem is I don't have experience relates to my major



<< The key is getting an interview...if you can get one, you can explain why you got a low GPA (family tragedy, sickness, supporting yourself through college, working, etc.) and be more of a real person instead of a BS with low GPA. >>


You know the funnie thing is.. that is my "excuse" of why I have a low GPA... my first 2 years in college I had to go thru a lot of personal/family issues but sometimes I feel that I can't use that as an excuse of why I am getting a low GPA because it is still my fault.



<< GPA isn't everything...but some of the larger corporations tend to automatically eliminate candidates below certain GPA ranges...

However, depending on your personality and charisma, you may be able to get them to overlook your low GPA, but that can be tough. >>


yeah.. that's the hard part because when I look at Jobtrack or Monster.com they all have a minium requirement on the GPA and that's part of the reason I post this

 

[HamSupLo]

For work in the financial field, GPA matters. If you don't have a 3.5+, top accouting, banking, and consulting firms won't even bother looking at your resume. If you stick with tech, experience matters much more.

 

[webnewland]

affect what (where) you get to learn, and ultimately affect what you do.

 

[DannyLove]

<< Well say it's down to you and someone else for a job, you went to equivalent universities, have the same amount of experience..he has a 3.8, and you have a 2.8 or whatever..who do you think they'll pick? >>

this is true, but only if you are in a situation where experience is completely leveled out with someone else. which i think is possible but very rare, (course depending on the field)

danny~!

 

[OrByte]

Oh and careful about the sob stories in an interview.

When in an interview accentuate your ability to do the job and to enhance the position that you are applying for.


If you have no experiance in your field of study I suggest you do so soon. Do an Internship or something, volunteer!


If you are afraid and don't know where to start here is some advice.....just start calling! Pick up the phone and call agencies that are in your field of study. Call everywhere! You will probably be pleasently surprised at the response you would get.

Good luck.

 

[GoldenBear]

<< this is true, but only if you are in a situation where experience is completely leveled out with someone else. which i think is possible but very rare, (course depending on the field)

danny~! >>

Say they both just got out of college..the chances are pretty high that neither would have experience..and it's more prevalent in some fields than others of course.

GoldenbeAR~!

 

[shiner]

GPA is about as important in the "real" world as it is for a supermodel to have brains.

 

[tgillitzr]

I'd say GPA only counts for the first job, after that, its mostly experience

 

[etech]

For getting that first job GPA is important. Six people form my college class joined the company I'm with. Three of us were offered jobs at the interview and the other three weren't and had to go through another interview process. The three that were offered jobs at the interview all had GPA'a over 3.5, the others didn't.

After the first job, GPA is not as important as your experience, job skills and reccomendations, but a low GPA may keep you out of some of the more prestigious firms at first. If that type of firm is where you want to work, you may have to change jobs to get there instead of starting there in the first place.

College is less about teaching you what you need to know than weeding out the people that can't work and perform. GPA is a measure of that.

If you haven't noticed the job market is going to be getting tighter for awhile, stop surfing and study.

 

[Whitecloak]

I finished my post-graduation about 6 months. what i have noticed is that as long as you dont have "good" work-experience, gpa will continue to matter.

 

[bonkers325]

<< I will be graduating (crossing my finger) next quarter with an International Relation major.. and I am starting to get worry about my future prospects... My GPA is really low because all I did was goof around in college I regretted now but there is no way for me to pull it up now. I have no experience in International Relation related work.. I have been a computer tech for the last 2 1/2 years and been working as a teller for 3 years.
I would like to get a job that relates to my major the only thing that I am worry about is my GPA because I have heard from my friends that they ask for GPA and stuff. Any suggestions? comments? >>



high or good gpa= easy get in for Masters degree

 

[flot]

Not to sound negative, but if you don't have a good GPA and you have an "International Relation" (?) Major I'd be worried. What specifically is that degree supposed to qualify you for?

There are some degrees where GPA can and is overlooked. There are others where the degree itself doesn't have a lot of merit, and then companies will look to other indications of your "worth." If you had an "easy major" and you did a "bad job at it" then what does that say about you??

Not bashing International Relations majors. I have no idea what that is, but honestly it sounds like an "I went to college" major to me, and yes, in those sort of cases... if your GPA isn't good you had better be 1) awfully personable, 2) have some good job experience (even if irrelevant to major), 3) interview well.

 

[cahwis]

Hmm, not at all from my experience.

No one asked me my GPA

No one even cared that I had 2 majors.

No one cared that I had another minor.

My interviewer talked about aquarium fish and paintball.



Maybe people at PETSMART just don't care who they hire