Question regarding Uni and GPA!

[rick14]

Hey everyone,

I live in Calgary and I'm currently taking University Entrance Option at Mount Royal University and then planning on getting into the BBA program (Bachelor of Business Administration) this fall. I have taken some business-related courses and some GNED courses so far. Last semester I had a business course and a GNED course and had a overall GPA of 3.5 (out of 4) after those two classes.

Now as I take more classes and look ahead at my next 4+ years at Uni, I'm wondering, does my overall GPA (of every single course I've ever taken at Uni) matter when I have my degree? For instance, will it help me with getting a good job in Accounting? (I plan on Majoring in Accounting).

I've been wondering about this a lot, because I've been hearing a lot of stories about how overall GPA matters (according to some) and how it doesn't matter (according to others). It has made me unsure if I should put in a lot of effort in my classes this semester or minimal effort (I have two GNED classes and one Business class this semester).

[MarchHare]

Your GPA is only important if you're planning to apply to grad school. No employer gives a damn what your grades were.

What will really help you to start your career after you finish shool is getting some decent job experience while you're still a student. Rather than taking your summers off, get a job (preferably one in your future field) and do your best to make a very positive impression and show your value. Best-case scenario, they like you so much that they offer you full-time employment after you graduate; worst-case scenario, they give you a good reference and you get valuable, relevant experience to put on your CV.

[CubicleGeek]

Can't speak for accounting roles, but when I graduated from Comp. Sci. no employer asked me for my transcript or asked me what my grades were. But I only interviewed at a few places before finding my first job - one of which was a very large corporation where I ended up taking the job.

Once you have experience it really doesn't matter - experience is more important.

[Calgary14]

GPA matters to an extent but it's also a good idea to have a balanced resume with other things like work experience and volunteer experience.

FYI I am a CA and graduated with a Bcomm in Accounting. Let me know if you have any questions

[malcolmk14]

Your GPA doesn't matter unless it's ####ty. Employers for the most part don't care unless there's a big red flag (ie. your GPA is under 3.0). Try and get as much experience as possible during the summer, preferably in your desired field. Any accounting experience you get will matter way more than any GPA on your resume. If you can't find a job that gets you accounting experience, volunteer for a community organization that has a treasurer and work with them. There are tons of opportunities you just have to look for them.

As far as your last question - should you put in a lot or minimal effort? Well for most classes you'll get out what you put in. Do you care to learn anything at all?

If I were an employer and for whatever reason was looking at your transcripts and saw a few C's or D's, I'd see someone who doesn't put in the effort when it doesn't suit them, and that might be a question I ask you in an interview.

Oh, and it's University.

[MarchHare]

If I were an employer and for whatever reason was looking at your transcripts and saw a few C's or D's, I'd see someone who doesn't put in the effort when it doesn't suit them, and that might be a question I ask you in an interview.

I've never once had a prospective employer ask to see my university transcript, even when I was a recent grad applying for my first "real" full-time job.

I'm now in a position where I hire people (predominantly for entry-level roles), and I don't ask to see their transcripts. I'm not sure if the HR gatekeepers do before they send the applicants' resumes to me, but I doubt it.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I've never once had a prospective employer ask to see my university transcript, even when I was a recent grad applying for my first "real" full-time job.

I'm now in a position where I hire people (predominantly for entry-level roles), and I don't ask to see their transcripts. I'm not sure if the HR gatekeepers do before they send the applicants' resumes to me, but I doubt it.

For sure, and most definitely don't. But some do, I've had potential employers ask me about transcripts before, as recently as two weeks ago actually.

[Yee88]

If you are planning to transfer to the BBA program at MRU I hear the GPA to get in is around 3.7 at least it was for this past Fall. Job-wise like others have said will not really matter. As long as your GPA is above 2.8, that's the general minimum that companies look for. I definitely suggest taking lighter courses now to increase your GPA. Easy core courses to take would be HRES 2170, MKTG 2150, INBU 3301, and the two stats classes.

Get into lots of networking and sign up for BASS (the accounting club) to get more information about job fairs and future opportunities. You could also speak to the advisors but I hear they are not that helpful. Go to the Career Center and talk to Ronak Dave to get some good insight about future options.

This is from a fourth year accounting student in the BBA program at MRU.

[Temporary_User]

The minimum GPA one needs is a 2.0. Anything below that and you will be kicked out of the university.
If you can get a good GPA do it. Not all but many internships will ask about it. If you ever want to go further (masters, mba, etc) you will need a 3.0+

I never cared about mine and don't really know what I graduated with. I think around a 2.5. Now that I've been working for a few years it definitely doesn't matter but I do always think it would be nice to go back and get a mba or something.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Your GPA is only important if you're planning to apply to grad school. No employer gives a damn what your grades were.

What will really help you to start your career after you finish shool is getting some decent job experience while you're still a student. Rather than taking your summers off, get a job (preferably one in your future field) and do your best to make a very positive impression and show your value. Best-case scenario, they like you so much that they offer you full-time employment after you graduate; worst-case scenario, they give you a good reference and you get valuable, relevant experience to put on your CV.

For accounting and many things in finance - this is 100% false. If the OP wants to work for a Big 4 Accounting firm (in the old days, to get your CA) GPA absolutely is looked at. It is by no means the *only* thing they will look at, nor is it 100% absolute but if you have a 2.2 overall average from Mount Royal with 2 years of "accounting" at Bob's Hot Tub sales - I wouldn't expect to make 1st cut... Unless you're Captain of the Hockey team maybe.

Even if you didnt choose to work for a firm and went for a CMA - expect competition for the best companies. Moreoften than not, right out of school with not much on your resume - expect companies to use the one thing they can do differentiate amongst fresh out of school applicants - GPA.

Same thing for Finance. Don't expect a Tier 1 firm to be considering you for Investment Banking under the same scenario above.

So yes, grades and the institution you go to do matter to land you that 1st job. After that, yes - no one cares about your GPA. I say this from someone who has hired for the firms, and for major companies in town for the last 19 years out of many institutions. If there's two candidates on the table with similar personalities and work experience (which typically out of university is not much) - hands down I go for the one with the 3.4 over the 2.2.

Hard work - usually gets you results.

[Ahuch]

I was never asked for my GPA a single time after University, personally. It probably matters more for accounting.

[photon]

I was told to throw my 4.0 because that would look bad, TOO focused on achievement or something. Ended up losing it because of some course I hated anyway.

No one ever asked me for it.

[Superfraggle]

It absolutely matters in accounting. There is a threshold you have to hit with your GPA or the big 4 won't even look at you. Once you hit that threshold, it's less important.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by photon

I was told to throw my 4.0 because that would look bad, TOO focused on achievement or something.

No one ever asked me for it.

AHAHAHAHA. That was some terrible advice. If that was all you had, sure but the absence alone would have been the negative, not the fact you (could have) achieved a 4.0

[rick14]

Originally Posted by Superfraggle

It absolutely matters in accounting. There is a threshold you have to hit with your GPA or the big 4 won't even look at you. Once you hit that threshold, it's less important.

Do the big 4 have locations in Calgary? and do they pay more to employees than other firms?

[V]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

If you ever want to go further (masters, mba, etc) you will need a 3.0+

I got into the MBA program in 2012 and had a 2.3 GPA in my undergrad. I had over 10 years of work experience and scored a 730 on my GMAT, though, so they knew I wasn't an idiot.

fotze's right about engineering though. First job was very hard for me to get because of my poor GPA. Haven't been asked about it since though.

As for the final sentence of the OP, I would put enough effort in to score in the low to mid 3s. The difference between a 3.5 and a 4.0 is a crazy amount of work. Minimal effort is silly, though. You should probably try to learn something while you're in school. Don't waste your time.

[calf]

Originally Posted by rick14

Do the big 4 have locations in Calgary? and do they pay more to employees than other firms?

They do - I've been out of public practice for a number of years now, but in my time they paid relatively the same as mid-sized national firms like MNP, Grant Thornton, etc, but all would pay more than a mom and pop shop.

I will also re-iterate what everyone else has said, that GPA matters to the extent it's not terrible. Start now on ensuring you're as well rounded as possible - volunteering, being part of school committees, extra-curricular activities, other jobs when you're in school. Those things show you're able to be organized, manage your time, and work with others, which are as important as knowing the ins and outs of IAS 36. But make sure you're doing things you want to do, not padding your resume - people can see through that.

[GP_Matt]

Something that I haven't seen yet is that four years is a long time away.
Tanking some classes now so that you can have an easier run may close options for you in the future.
Maybe it is a recession when you graduate and there are triple the applicants for each position. With more applicants it is easy for employers to make a blanket statement that they will only interview the best 10% and use GPA as part of that criteria.
Four years is also far enough away that you may well change your mind. Maybe you really like the courses and want to pursue your Masters. Maybe you have an opportunity to transfer to a different school that has higher cutoffs for enrollment.

In the end, having a low GPA can reduce your choice in the future and it doesn't take that much effort to raise your GPA from low 2s to low 3s.