Will this hurt me more than it helps me? (low GPA on resume) Forum

[Anonymous User]

I made some low grades in my 1st year, but decent grades in my second year.

1st yr gpa = 2.7
2nd yr gpa = 3.3

My cumulative GPA for all my classes together is averaging out to a 2.9 (it's a 2.88, so not to a 3.0 yet...)

Which do you think is best for my situation?
1) Continue to leave GPA off my resume
2) put gpa on resume in some kind of weirdo format like this: GPA: 2nd year cumulative 3.3 / all semesters 2.9
3) Other?

[downstream]

Where do you go to skule and what type of jobs are you going for? what was your ugrad GPA and is it on there?

[downstream]

Also- where do you stand rankings wise?

[Anonymous User]

-School is a well known T1 with a good reputation on the east coast, but not a top 14.
-Types of jobs? Anything where I can be an attorney. I completely gave up on applying to large law firms, or anything with an actual SA program because of my low GPA. I got a good gov job for this summer, although it's unlikely to turn into something full time. I'm planning on applying to anything and everything, grads with far better gpas than myself are graduating without jobs.
-Undergrad GPA was a 3.8, I took it off my resume after my first semester of law school when I discovered I had a 2.7 lawschool GPA
-I haven't gotten an update since my recent grades, but I'm probably around the lower 70% of the class

[Anonymous User]

IMHO - leave it off, I highly doubt there are any places that will trashcan your resume without a GPA that wouldn't trashcan it with anyway sub-3.0/50%.

If they ask you during interview, feel free to bring up the deviation between semesters, otherwise simply focus on your positives and ignore GPA.

Let your cover letters do the talking and hope for the best.

---

stupid accidental anonymous again im sorry -_-"

[blurbz]

I think this really depends on the curve at your school and where you are on it...

At my school, we curve to a 3.2 (So between a B and a B+) and career services says that if your GPA is below a 3.0, you should leave it off. I think it also depends on how well the employers to which you will be applying know your school: if your school has a low curve and employers know that, they'll be more forgiving of a low GPA.

There is no rule that you have to send identical resumes to every employer. Instead, make sure each resume and cover letter is tailored for each employer.

[IzziesGal]

I'd leave it off as well. There are some employers who will automatically make judgments based on that number, and it would be much better for you if the hiring attorney could fall in love with your resume and form a favorable opinion of you before getting to your transcripts and finding out the number. In fact, I'd put my package together like this: cover letter, resume, list of solid references, writing sample, transcript. I'd let it be the last thing the person sees after being wowed by everything else you've hit them with.

[Renzo]

Leave it off. Your resume is your chance to impress; never put anything on it that doesn't do so.

[Anonymous User]

Leave it off. Your resume is your chance to impress; never put anything on it that doesn't do so.

OP here again.

I agree with this and I'm going to keep my GPA off my resume. Thanks for the input guys.