C's get degrees but

[declansdad]

One thing to consider is where the grade is from. Due to grade inflation, "C's" aren't considered a decent grade anymore. In actuality, it should be the average undergraduate student grade. Wayyy back in the day, I had a friend who had a hard time adjusting to the fact that he was a B/C student at Stanford. He'd been a big fish in a small pool in high school. I still think his B's and C's at Stanford trump most state school A grades, and I would think employers would know that. Where you get your degree from probably matters more than what your grades were.

To most employers, the fact you got the degree is what matters, not the grades.

 

[rockawaybeachgirl]

To most employers, the fact you got the degree is what matters, not the grades.

My company (Big 4 accounting firm) recruits 80% of our staff from college campuses. You won't even pass the 'resume drop' -ie the initial screening- without at least a 3.5 GPA unless there is some extenuating circumstance. For the 20% of experienced hires,they'd maybe go as low as a 3.0 but certainly nowhere near a C.

 

[tvguy]

MOST of EVERY interview is spent discussing holidays?

I just don't believe it.

Someone may make a comment about how prospective employees are more interested in discussing benefits and vacations more than in the past.

But, "Most of the interview process?" No way.

Her description, not mine. And not my employer.

I don't do hiring, but my previous boss at work expressed great frustration at trying to fill jobs, extending offers, and having applicants reply they would need a salary 50% higher than the offer to even consider the job. So, at least in my industry, the preoccupation with benefits isn't a surprise to me.

 

[tvguy]

In journalism do you have to be pulling the "a's" to get those internships though. One of my sons is fretting a "c" right now because he applies for his co op in engineering this year.

The next one down the line is looking at journalism and is trying to get his writing out there and read as a senior. But I have no clue what to suggest past that. He's been published a few times which is a start.

I can see the concern about internships (or co-ops as the engineering school at my univeristy called them) and grades in engineering school, but those are paid internships.

Every Journalism internship I had was college credit only, no pay. 3 internships did turn into getting hired as an employee though.

 

[Callie]

The one person who inspired this thread, and was happy about the C thing, went to a community college, for a 2 year degree. She was at a university for two years, but failed most of her classes because she partied all the time, and did other things

 

[Hrhpd]

To most employers, the fact you got the degree is what matters, not the grades.

That is simply not true in today's day and age. At least not in the engineering world.

As I mentioned, my kid graduated this year past spring from a highly touted engineering school.

I would say, at least 95% of his friends and fellow students, in the various schools of engineering (applied math, chemical, biochem, computer sciences, aerospace, etc) absolutely had to provide a GPA with transcripts to back it up.

At the recruiting fairs, they wouldn't even talk to you with a GPA under 3.5 (3.2 for chemical.) And to be hired, you better have a GPA higher than that 3.5 along with intern experience. Submitting a resume with a GPA under 3.5 will make it extremely hard to even get in the door for an interview.

 

[declansdad]

That is simply not true in today's day and age. At least not in the engineering world.

As I mentioned, my kid graduated this year past spring from a highly touted engineering school.

I would say, at least 95% of his friends and fellow students, in the various schools of engineering (applied math, chemical, biochem, computer sciences, aerospace, etc) absolutely had to provide a GPA with transcripts to back it up.

At the recruiting fairs, they wouldn't even talk to you with a GPA under 3.5 (3.2 for chemical.) And to be hired, you better have a GPA higher than that 3.5 along with intern experience.

I'm sure there are some fields that this would hold true more often than not all. Marks are not the be all, end all for determining if a person is any good or not.

 

[Granny square]

I can see the concern about internships (or co-ops as the engineering school at my univeristy called them) and grades in engineering school, but those are paid internships.

Every Journalism internship I had was college credit only, no pay. 3 internships did turn into getting hired as an employee though.

Thank you I appreciate the information.

 

[Hrhpd]

I'm sure there are some fields that this would hold true more often than not all. Marks are not the be all, end all for determining if a person is any good or not.

You said MOST employers only care about the degree, not the grades. As evidenced by the responders in this thread in many different fields, it is more fair to say MOST fields do require transcripts when hiring new college graduates.

The fields where just the degree matters would be in the minority.

I do agree that grades don't always show the potential of the employee, but when new graduates do not have any work experience to prove their worth for their first jobs, employers are relying on GPA's and looking at the strength of transcripts.

GPA's are not reflective of only test scores. Even if a student does not test well, there are many avenues to pull up the grade. Office hours, tutors, etc. A GPA shows the commitment and "work" a student puts into their studies. Often that translates into the same work ethic in the work force.

 

[christineann]

Both of my kids had to submit college transcripts to their prospective (now current) employers. One works in law enforcement, and one works in a science field.

An attitude of "just getting by" in college is often an indication of one's work ethic, not only academically but professionally. With the competition for jobs, that just doesn't cut it, and most employers can afford to be selective.

 

[scoutie]

In education, they request transcripts. At one interview, I had to explain the "D" I got in a class.

 

[MrsPete]

When i was interviewing for my first job right out of college, everyone wanted to see an official transcripts, evaluations from my student teaching semester, NTE scores (standardized test that has been replaced by the PRAXIS), and my teaching license. Now that I have years of experience, a new employer would care about my more recent achievements: work evaluations, recommendations.

But, yes, grades matter when a new grad is going for that first job.

 

[declansdad]

Both of my kids had to submit college transcripts to their prospective (now current) employers. One works in law enforcement, and one works in a science field.

An attitude of "just getting by" in college is often an indication of one's work ethic, not only academically but professionally. With the competition for jobs, that just doesn't cut it, and most employers can afford to be selective.

Sorry I don't agree. I taught at the college level for 10 years and was the principal of the college for another 3. Simply because someone is a "C" student doesn't mean they have a "just getting by" attitude. There could be many reasons why they are scoring the way they are. There were many of these students I would hire before the students who scored the highest.

 

[Hrhpd]

Sorry I don't agree. I taught at the college level for 10 years and was the principal of the college for another 3. Simply because someone is a "C" student doesn't mean they have a "just getting by" attitude. There could be many reasons why they are scoring the way they are. There were many of these students I would hire before the students who scored the highest.

You may not agree, but that is the reality our new graduates are facing today. What did you teach?

In my son's field, those with a C average are the ones saying "Do you want fries with that" since they will not be able to find a job in their field.

The minimum requirement for his grad school is a 3.85. They will not consider you under a 3.85. There are no exceptions. And in his discipline, a graduate degree is pretty much required to get ahead.

So, it isn't just employers, but universities are selective of their graduate applicants.

A "C" average student is roundly seen as a slacker. There are plenty of ways to pull up that GPA. The fact that a student did not do the extra work to pull up a grade does not bode well in getting a good job in the work force. One "C" you can usually explain away. But a C average GPA - nope, many employers view that as coasting through school and not going above and beyond.

 

[LisaR]

Sorry I don't agree. I taught at the college level for 10 years and was the principal of the college for another 3. Simply because someone is a "C" student doesn't mean they have a "just getting by" attitude. There could be many reasons why they are scoring the way they are. There were many of these students I would hire before the students who scored the highest.

Colleges have principals?

 

[Hrhpd]

Colleges have principals?

Good catch

Edited - just looked it up and a few colleges in Canada have Principals.

So, maybe in Canada, grades don't matter as much.

 

[declansdad]

Colleges have principals?

Yes.

 

[sonnyjane]

I've held four jobs in the nine years since graduating college. Never been asked for transcripts, never asked for GPA, and never asked to provide a diploma or other proof beyond what I had listed on my resume. Guess I've been lucky

 

[declansdad]

You may not agree, but that is the reality our new graduates are facing today. What did you teach?

In my son's field, those with a C average are the ones saying "Do you want fries with that" since they will not be able to find a job in their field.

The minimum requirement for his grad school is a 3.85. They will not consider you under a 3.85. There are no exceptions. And in his discipline, a graduate degree is pretty much required to get ahead.

So, it isn't just employers, but universities are selective of their graduate applicants.

A "C" average student is roundly seen as a slacker. There are plenty of ways to pull up that GPA. The fact that a student did not do the extra work to pull up a grade does not bode well in getting a good job in the work force. One "C" you can usually explain away. But a C average GPA - nope, many employers view that as coasting through school and not going above and beyond.

I taught business administration.

 

[Hrhpd]

I've held four jobs in the nine years since graduating college. Never been asked for transcripts, never asked for GPA, and never asked to provide a diploma or other proof beyond what I had listed on my resume. Guess I've been lucky

What field are you in? It is interesting to see which fields are grade and GPA driven and which ones are not.

I also think this is a relatively new thing. So, no, 9 years ago you would not have been asked. And since then, you have had 9 years to build a resume. It is today's graduates that are entering a much more competitive arena and GPA is now being used as a method to weed candidates out.

College grads are competing with experienced people due to the past job downturn. Hence, companies using GPA's to evaluate.