Joined: 12 Aug 2009
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6
Posted: 02 Sep 2009 at 18:53 | IP Logged
Hi guys,
I want to apply to the Big 4. The problem is that I have a low undergrad gpa (2.8) and I have been told by some people that I can leave it off and just include my graduate GPA (3.6). Some people say that I should leave the 2.8 on there. Any suggestions?
Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Location: United States
Online Status: Offline Posts: 413
Posted: 02 Sep 2009 at 20:24 | IP Logged
When did you graduate, do you have work experience? I work for a big 4 in tax and I only have that I graduated cum laude from undergrad and I didn't include any graduate gpa on my resume. I also secured my position with the firm after two internships while I was an undergrad student so I guess graduate gpa doesn't really matter in my position.
There comes a point in your career where gpa plays less of a roll in your abilities to be considered by an employer. I'd say that since your graduate education trumps your undergrad education, you should put your graduate gpa on your resume and leave your undergrad off. If they ask you about it then you'll need to explain it which will give you an opportunity to spin a negative (lower undergrad gpa) into a positive (higher graduate gpa). If you've been out of schoold for a few years they'll be more interested in what you've accomplished since your time as a student anyways and I would imagine that they would put even less weight on your gpa in that situation.
Joined: 12 Aug 2009
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6
Posted: 02 Sep 2009 at 23:14 | IP Logged
KMirgAZ,
Although I graduated from my undergrad about 3 years ago I don't have any experience. since I graduated I took almost a year off, then I took undergrad accounting courses for a year. After that I went for my masters in accounting and graduated may this year 2009. During my masters, i was only selected for one big 4 interview and I didn't get hired, however, that was before I had my graduate GPA. My school career advisor said to leave the 2.8 off, but my counselor said I should have put it on (he said thats why i wasn't selected for interviews). Needless to say, im confused. I don't want to leave it off only to have a recruiter assume its lower than it really is.
P.s. I am applying through my school's career site for an entry level position, so I without experience, the recruiter may want to see it.
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Location: United States
Online Status: Offline Posts: 22
Posted: 03 Sep 2009 at 13:24 | IP Logged
Honestly, unless they specifically request your
undergraduate GPA (some kind of Big 4 resume format,) I
would assume that my graduate work is much more important
and that it would make your undergraduate GPA irrelevant.
Make your resume shine and, if selected for an interview,
have some kind of explanation ready if they ask about
your low undergraduate GPA. My interviewers had my
transcript on their desk during on-campus interviews.
They had even highlighted specific bad grades and asked
about them.
For what it is worth, I got into a Big 4 with a 2.8 major
GPA and a 3.0 overall (undergrad.) Though I had some non-
Big 4 accounting experience from past summers.
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Topic: Low GPA on resume
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