What would a low undergrad GPA indicate to you about a graduate?

[Bobbi]

If you were an employer or a graduate admissions counselor, what would you think if you saw an UG gpa below a 2.5?

*My low gpa has killed my confidence. Can I go back to school for another 4 years, or just accept my fate as a burger flipper?*

[Teelee]

It really depends on what you studied as an undergrad. Certain fields don't really look at your undergrad transcript if you have a solid resume and experience. For grad school related issue, one way to increase your GPA is to complete a postbaccalaureateprogram offered by many universities. If you do really well with your postbacc you can improve your chances. Also, if your undergrad major is completely different from your grad school studies and you complete a postbacc type of program, they will weigh your postbacc GPA more.

[Bobbi]

Thank you. That helps a lot. I am in fact looking at a grad program that is unrelated to my undergrad major, so hopefully it will not matter as much as perhaps GMAT score and postbacc classes.

[latte thunder]

If you were an employer or a graduate admissions counselor, what would you think if you saw an UG gpa below a 2.5?

*My low gpa has killed my confidence. Can I go back to school for another 4 years, or just accept my fate as a burger flipper?*

Very few employers are going to care about your GPA. I've never even been asked for a transcript! The one's who do typically conduct on campus interviews anyway, so if you've already graduated its too late for them. Trust me, I've been out of school for about 3 years now and GPA is NOT a factor in where people ultimately end up. It really does boil down to motivation, networking, risk taking and persistence. BIG emphasis on risk taking. I've seen some people make crazy decisions, but it was what they wanted and liking what you do goes a long way towards being sucessful. One of my classmates who tried so little she failed gym class has now won awards for motivational speaking and community engagement. Some very smart and intelligent people still have entry level sales jobs. I know quite a few people with sub 2.5 GPAs, and you cannot tell who is who from what they do.

From a lot of your posts it seems as though you want to go back to school only because you feel you won't have a lot of job opportunities and not because you want to learn something new. If this is the case, DON"T GO BACK. You'll probably just stress yourself out more and it will negatively affect your work.

I suggest that you get a temp job then do some informational interviews to determine where you want to work and what you need to do to get there (this is unlikely to be school unless you have some very specific interests). I wouldn't waste the money or time it takes to apply to grad school until you are CERTAIN about what you want and have a clear path to get there.

[Bobbi]

Thank you. I will be conducting informational interviews next week for nursing and accountants, so hopefully that will clear some things up. Sales jobs aren't for me. Unfortunately, being an introvert can set you back even further in this economy.

[Bobbi]

I just wanted to mention that the only jobs that ask for my GPA are the technical ones, such as an analyst or consultant, which tends to lower my chances even further.

[Gaijin Punch]

Very few employers are going to care about your GPA. I've never even been asked for a transcript! The one's who do typically conduct on campus interviews anyway, so if you've already graduated its too late for them. Trust me, I've been out of school for about 3 years now and GPA is NOT a factor in where people ultimately end up. It really does boil down to motivation, networking, risk taking and persistence. BIG emphasis on risk taking. I've seen some people make crazy decisions, but it was what they wanted and liking what you do goes a long way towards being sucessful. One of my classmates who tried so little she failed gym class has now won awards for motivational speaking and community engagement. Some very smart and intelligent people still have entry level sales jobs. I know quite a few people with sub 2.5 GPAs, and you cannot tell who is who from what they do.

From a lot of your posts it seems as though you want to go back to school only because you feel you won't have a lot of job opportunities and not because you want to learn something new. If this is the case, DON"T GO BACK. You'll probably just stress yourself out more and it will negatively affect your work.

I suggest that you get a temp job then do some informational interviews to determine where you want to work and what you need to do to get there (this is unlikely to be school unless you have some very specific interests). I wouldn't waste the money or time it takes to apply to grad school until you are CERTAIN about what you want and have a clear path to get there.

This is great advice.

Most employers do not care about your GPA, and for the most part, any part of your schooling aside from what type of degree you have (BA, BSC, Masters, etc.). What they care most is your ability to learn things quickly, how well you can adapt in the job, how personable you are (I'm talking about the professional industry for the most part, not sure how other industries are). The most important thing is to network, network, network. Create as many connections, because you never know when you will need someone. I know lots of people who I went to undergrad with who were geniuses and had 4.0's, but didn't have the social skills to apply themselves in the working world. Smarts can only get you so far.

[Bobbi]

@ Gaijin Punch:

Yes, people skills are very very important in the real world. I'm trying to network with people a lot older than me. BTW, a little off topic, but what is gaijin punch?

[Gaijin Punch]

Good call on networking with people older than you. They are the ones who have been in the industry for a while and know the ins and outs, as well as who to talk to, or can just give generally good advice for the most part.

As for my name... Gaijin means foreigner or non-Japanese in the Japanese language. Name doesn't really mean much, just a web handle I've used for 10 or so years, no point changing it now I suppose.