Going into Screener well below GPA requirement for V50 Forum

[Anonymous User]

At a T25 going into a screener interview with a v50 well below their GPA cutoff (I'm barely a B+ average, they want 3.5+). Not sure how to approach it ( I know, be natural). I'm expecting them to ask about my grades and I am ready to respond but what other questions could I expect when in my position?

I have a good deal of work experience in finance and would like to take that path with their firm (M&A, VC, PEG, Antitrust, general corporate, etc).

I've only landed 3 other screeners with v50 firms - all well below their GPA cutoffs; one went to a CB then no offer, the other has seen no movement and it's been 3 weeks (my buddy from T5 just got an offer).

[Anonymous User]

Is this pre-select or lottery? I just got callbacks with 2 V50s where I thought I was below their GPA cutoff. Barely above median at Texas/Vandy/UCLA. Similar work experience to you. Wasn't once asked about my GPA in any screeners so far.

[BruceWayne]

Firms very rarely ask about your GPA in a screener. If it's too low they'll just reject you later on/not contact you any further. It won't be something you have to talk about in the actual interview.

[Anonymous User]

If you're at a t-25 that means it's most likely a pre-select so you should walk into that interview knowing that they've already decided your worthy enough to hire if you nail it. Even if that's not true convince yourself it's true.

If they ask you about your grades or GPA, own it, if you have an upward trend mention it, pivot to strengths.

[Anonymous User]

Firms very rarely ask about your GPA in a screener. If it's too low they'll just reject you later on/not contact you any further. It won't be something you have to talk about in the actual interview.

I guess the reason I'm freaking out is my last CB the HP blatantly asked me how i reconcile my GPA. In retrospect i have a great answer - but at the time I just fumbled along. Fairly confident that was likely a big reason i didn't get an offer (but not the only one) so i guess i'm over thinking it.

[Anonymous User]

I received an email from the HR of a firm I just went to a screener, and obvisouly she was supposed to send that email to someone else in her firm and by mistake sent it to me.
In the email she said " we can't give XX(my name) a CB ,his/her grades are low."
Imagine my feeling when I read that shit.

[dproduct]

I received an email from the HR of a firm I just went to a screener, and obvisouly she was supposed to send that email to someone else in her firm and by mistake sent it to me.
In the email she said " we can't give XX(my name) a CB ,his/her grades are low."
Imagine my feeling when I read that shit.

Dude that fucking sucks. I'm so sorry.

[FSK]

I received an email from the HR of a firm I just went to a screener, and obvisouly she was supposed to send that email to someone else in her firm and by mistake sent it to me.
In the email she said " we can't give XX(my name) a CB ,his/her grades are low."
Imagine my feeling when I read that shit.

Dude that fucking sucks. I'm so sorry.

Fuck this profession.

[Mal Reynolds]

Wow that's messed up.

[baal hadad]

Wow that's messed up.

We all know firms do this but it's shitty to see it laid bare in such an explicit manner

[timmyd]

why would they even interview you then? I mean it just seems like such a waste of everyone's time. I get they have a certain number of interviews they have to do for oci...for mass mail there is no excuse. Even for oci, it would just be better for all parties if they dropped the number of interviews if the firm has a mindset like that. I think some firms will be more flexible if you kill the interview, but not that one. Keep grinding.

[Mal Reynolds]

why would they even interview you then? I mean it just seems like such a waste of everyone's time. I get they have a certain number of interviews they have to do for oci...for mass mail there is no excuse. Even for oci, it would just be better for all parties if they dropped the number of interviews if the firm has a mindset like that. I think some firms will be more flexible if you kill the interview, but not that one. Keep grinding.

Firms dip below GPA requrements. It's the exception, but what are you gonna do? Turn down that interview?

[timmyd]

No, I mean you have to do it, but the email indicates that even with a solid, nay, outstanding interview, there will be no callback. My question is why the firm would even do it? It seems wasteful to all parties involved. I have an upcoming 3L interview post clerkship with a V15 (transfer student, top 20ish% at UT, Vandy, UCLA) and I am paying out of pocket to go to this thing, not to mention giving up time at work. I know I am a borderline candidate as a transfer from a TTT school and it wouldn't suprise me if emails like this were in circulation about me. The point is that its wrong and OP either has or will waste time and money (assuming this isnt at oci) to keep an interview he/she has no chance of anything as a result.

[shifty_eyed]

I received an email from the HR of a firm I just went to a screener, and obvisouly she was supposed to send that email to someone else in her firm and by mistake sent it to me.
In the email she said " we can't give XX(my name) a CB ,his/her grades are low."
Imagine my feeling when I read that shit.

Dude that fucking sucks. I'm so sorry.

Fuck this profession.

[Mal Reynolds]

No, I mean you have to do it, but the email indicates that even with a solid, nay, outstanding interview, there will be no callback. My question is why the firm would even do it? It seems wasteful to all parties involved. I have an upcoming 3L interview post clerkship with a V15 (transfer student, top 20ish% at UT, Vandy, UCLA) and I am paying out of pocket to go to this thing, not to mention giving up time at work. I know I am a borderline candidate as a transfer from a TTT school and it wouldn't suprise me if emails like this were in circulation about me. The point is that its wrong and OP either has or will waste time and money (assuming this isnt at oci) to keep an interview he/she has no chance of anything as a result.

If you have a stellar interview or impress them in some other way they might give you a callback. Blaming a rejection on grades could mean other things too. Just do the interview and stop worrying about shit you can't control.