How can a low GPA affect job opportunities for a recent college graduate?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the impact of a low GPA on job opportunities for a recent college graduate, specifically a Chemical Engineering major from UC Berkeley. Participants explore various pathways for employment, potential for medical school, and alternative academic strategies.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that a low GPA (2.8) and lack of experience may hinder job prospects and medical school applications.
  • Another suggests that the prestige of a university does not guarantee employment, emphasizing the importance of grades and experience.
  • Some propose that gaining experience as a lab technician could be a practical alternative while considering further education.
  • There are differing opinions on whether community college courses could effectively boost GPA and how they would be perceived by employers.
  • One participant argues that a degree in computer science may not be as critical as demonstrated understanding and skills in the field.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential for a second chance at academic success, given past performance.
  • Suggestions include exploring entrepreneurship as an alternative career path.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the feasibility of entering competitive fields like software industries without a relevant degree.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the implications of a low GPA on job opportunities and medical school admission. There is no consensus on the effectiveness of community college courses or alternative career paths.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include uncertainty about how community college grades would affect overall GPA calculations and the varying expectations of employers across different industries.

  • #31
Yep. His brother really needs to be able to make an impression on his professors, regardless of what he takes, because he'll need letters of recommendation from them which cite his performance compared to others. That's not really all that special a thing at a community college.
 
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  • #32
mr_coffee said:
Tony,

Its easier for you to be quizzed in the interviewing process if your a comp sci major to see if you know your stuff. They tell you right on the spot write this code, with these requirments, etc, or they can ask you how your going to solve this problem.

If you have a low GPA answering these questions or taking Programming appitude tests that some large companies make you take can make up for the low GPA.

But the low GPA is what will make it hard for you to get the initial interview.

This is why you don't post your GPA on your resume if its lower than a 3.0. Ill tell you, I am in the same boat as him and when my resume had my GPA listed in it, I would get very little phone calls but when I took it out, I noticed a big increase in responses by e-mail and phone. You can still have a low GPA above a 2.5 and get an initial interview but your resume needs to look good to impress a recruiter and convince him/her why you should be called in for an interview. If he did put his GPA in his resume or it looks messy, that's the reason why he has received few responses.

In addition, persistance is another key to getting a job. If you applied and submitted your resume to 100 companies and received few responses after a week, call the human resources department at each company to let them know you are still interested.
 
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