How much do grades matter during OCI? (threshold or sliding-scale?) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hello everyone,

As a general rule how much do grades matter past a certain set point? I know grades aren't everything (you need personality, fit and experience too). What I'm more wanting to know is whether all candidates are treated equally past a certain grade cutoff, or if candidates who have really excellent grades are given more slack in other areas. I've heard people in this forum argue both.

[lakers180]

lots of firms, lots of interviewers. each can to some extent make their decisions about a candidate on many factors. usually these decisions are quick and made in the moment. interviews are usually only 20 minutes long. but obviously better grades increase your chance of getting a favorable review. these firms are doing hundred of interviews though so their not going to sit and analyze whether a 3.63 or a 3.67 is better

[RaceJudicata]

Do your best in every interview that you have.

Obviously, bid appropriately and don't go after firms you have no chance at grade wise, but also don't ding yourself by determining that an interviewer isn't paying attention to you because of a slight grade difference. Also, of course candidates are treated differently -- most interviewers have no actual training and will focus on whatever they damn well please - be it grades, gender, personality, etc.

[TheSpanishMain]

I tend to think it's more threshold in general, but you can't really make a general statement. Interviewers are all different. I do think that most firms go in with a soft GPA floor, and once you meet it, it becomes more about personality, resume, etc.

[fxb3]

Firms and interviewers are, as others have said, all different. That said, in my view grades are still relevant once you pass a floor. True, the minute differences don't matter -- 3.63 vs. 3.67. That said, someone with truly outstanding grades may get some slack that others who barely meet our threshold wouldn't. We are willing to take more of a "personality risk" on a potential superstar, whereas someone who is at the bottom of our typical grade needs to be the total package in every other respect.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

Nearly every firm has a "target" for each particular school. It's gonna be the deciding point for most candidates. But candidates with exceptional grades can usually overcome mediocre "else", and candidates who blow an interviewer away will usually get a little wiggle room w/r/t grades.