Overcoming a gpa well below a 3.0 during job search.
Referring to the title above I graduated without about a 2.5 gpa. Overall if you included community college and my first college it’s a 2.8ish. I’ve been trying to get into commercial real estate. I also majored in urban planning and development which makes it even worse. Most companies haven’t asked but a company I just interviewed asked my gpa and want my unofficial transcripts. I really want to work there and said I had a 3.0. Obviously I can’t send my transcripts at this point. Not sure what to do at this point?

Any advice?
[{"id": "fgggeok", "text": "You've burned your bridge there, I would just seek out employment somewhere that doesn't ask for your GPA. I've literally never had a company ask, and it would throw up a red flag if they did.", "replies": [{"id": "fgggtc4", "text": "How should I follow up with them? I don\u2019t want to burn the bridge with them in case I work on a deal with them in the future. I\u2019m thinking follow up and say I found another opportunity.", "replies": [{"id": "fgghhpz", "text": "Yeah that sounds about right, just don't let anyone catch you in a lie like that in real estate- especially CRE. Your word and reputation are basically the entire game.", "replies": [{"id": "fggj1sc", "text": "Yeah I\u2019m well aware. A lot of interviews I have they know guys I know. Is following up saying I found another opportunity the best bet? I bought myself a few days to send them my unofficial transcripts.", "replies": [{"id": "fggjlur", "text": "That complicates things a bit, but yeah try to remain as brief as possible, and go social media silent until you've found a new position and then if anyone asks that was who you were going with.", "replies": [{"id": "fggkmwf", "text": "They will most likely ask where I got an offer. I have 30ish mutual connections in LinkedIn with the guys who interviewed me. I know a lot of people and I\u2019m assuming they do to. \n\nSo just email a thank you today and then send a brief email saying I am pursuing another opportunity in a few days? Then just go silent on social media until I find a job officially? Like don\u2019t add more connections type thing? I wasn\u2019t planning on updating LinkedIn for a few months after I find a job anyways.", "replies": [{"id": "fggkwmd", "text": "Lol you really got into it huh? Yeah that sounds like a good idea, we all fake it until we make it and your GPA has little bearing on your prospects in the business. Also make sure your reddit account isn't connected in any way to your real name lol.", "replies": [{"id": "fggl853", "text": "It\u2019s not. I purposely didn\u2019t post on Wall Street oasis about this. And I get shredded too anyways. I am well aware about gpa consider to banking but I will definitely be honest from here on out about it and spin it if they ask. My mom told me to take a one of the sports off my resume so I don\u2019t appear like a dumb athlete.", "replies": [{"id": "fgglhfq", "text": "your resume should be tailor made for the position, so yeah keep it off a CRE resume", "replies": [{"id": "fggm1un", "text": "My resume had been proofread by a name partner level real estate attorney who\u2019s a family member. He said it put the sports in there under activities for college. Most of the companies I\u2019ve interned at had a lot of ex college athletes. I\u2019ll take off the Club sport and keep the varsity on. \n\nShould I take off the honor scholarship? My gpa already isn\u2019t listed.\n\nAlso what\u2019s the red flag asking for a gpa? I though more competitive companies asked? A lot of the acquisition/asset management guys who work there went to targets.", "replies": [], "depth": 10}], "depth": 9}], "depth": 8}], "depth": 7}], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "fghk85d", "text": "It would be a red flag if a company asked for the GPA of a recent grad with no experience in the field? Why even give grades then?", "replies": [{"id": "fghqudf", "text": "I cant think of a white collar job that *doesn't* ask for gpa of new gradd", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "fghv6l5", "text": "I\u2019ve had multiple internships. I know more about real estate than a kid in my major who graduated with a 4.0. I\u2019m just not a good student.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fgggfy4", "text": "I don\u2019t think you should ever lie about this because most of the time they\u2019ll find out. If you interviewed there and they liked you, I bet your GPA wouldn\u2019t have been a dealbreaker. You lying about it most likely will be a dealbreaker.", "replies": [{"id": "fgggown", "text": "Every other place I\u2019ve interviewed at hasn\u2019t asked. So I was unprepared what to say. \n\nWill companies ask once I have a year or so of experience?", "replies": [{"id": "fgggy4o", "text": "I\u2019m still in college and have limited experience in this so I\u2019d hope others could weigh in. But from what I\u2019ve seen/heard I don\u2019t think gpa will matter much after your first position.", "replies": [{"id": "fggle6k", "text": "Yeah that\u2019s what my parents said. I really wish I put in more work in undergrad. The difference between my gpa and a 3.0 was getting Bs vs Cs in classes I should\u2019ve gotten Bs in.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fggh7qh", "text": "Like most of the commenters I agree never lie on a resume. Most companies don\u2019t care they want go getters. In future I would try reaching out to the hiring managers directly, let them know how hard working you are and you have a lower gpa but you\u2019ll prove yourself on the job. What plans do you have now? Have you gotten back on the horse ?", "replies": [{"id": "fggiu6g", "text": "I just graduated this past semester. My grades fell off a cliff my last 3 semesters. I got an honor scholarship going in. \n\nBeen interviewing a lot. Really excited to get this interview. Acquisitions role looking for multiple analysts coming that will hire out of undergrad. Super competitive. My college doesn\u2019t have a large real estate alumni base. \n\nWhat makes it worse is that I majored in real estate development with my bad gpa. I also had 5 real estate internships in college so it\u2019s easy to get interviews but it\u2019s been hard to land a job. I played two contact sports so I\u2019d assume if they found out I had a bad gpa they\u2019d assume I was a lazy athlete with concussions.", "replies": [{"id": "fggjspx", "text": "Don\u2019t beat yourself up. First job is always difficult for us all to get. I don\u2019t think people will think you are a lazy athlete. Keep plugging, maybe you can try expanding search to neighboring cities? Have you checked your network to see if anyone might know anyone in the industry ?", "replies": [{"id": "fggkz6v", "text": "I grew up in Orange County for there\u2019s mountains of opportunities in la, San Diego and Newport/Irvine. \n\nI know a decent amount of people and so does my sibling who also works in real estate. However it seems like no one is hiring right now except paces like Colliers who want brokers. \n\nI also haven\u2019t been asked about my gpa ever. My older sister had a similar gpa situation when interviewing with internships in college and just ghosted the company. Now she works at a large firm so I didn\u2019t matter in the end.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fggjjky", "text": "Well you lied, so likely once they learn that- they won\u2019t be interested further. \n\nFor the future, have a good reason as to why it is so low. Are there extenuating circumstances? Or did you literally not give a shit? If it\u2019s the latter, you have to learn how to create a story without lying your ass off. If it\u2019s something else, explain its impact. \n\nBut for the company you lied to, send your transcripts and see if it\u2019s repairable but know that what you did will likely ruin your shot.", "replies": [{"id": "fggk4ni", "text": "I got knee surgery. I have severe insomnia before midterms and finals. \n\nI figured the best thing to do is to tell them I found another opportunity. Especially if I work with the them at another company in the future.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fggo640", "text": "Don\u2019t lie, but don\u2019t put your GPA on your resume unless it is stellar - like 3.9+.\n\nKeep looking. You might need to start in commercial banking. See if you can get an analyst job at a mid-level regional bank.", "replies": [{"id": "fggy4be", "text": "I\u2019ve been looking everywhere. I\u2019m happy with any real estate related field as long as I get paid a salary and learn analytical skills.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fggodve", "text": "Dishonesty is one of the quickest ways to get rejected. Why was your GPA that low? \n\nIf you have the intangibles/drive companies will overlook GPAs, but companies will likely be skeptical of your drive/career interest since your GPA makes it seem like you were apathetic about your major, which happens to be relevant to CRE.\n\nNonetheless, it's definitely not uncommon for people that interview really well to beat out people with a full 1.0 higher GPA than them (especially in fields where success isn't extremely IQ dependent [you're not applying to NASA--you don't need a 4.0/150 IQ to make deals in CRE]).", "replies": [{"id": "fggxxdw", "text": "Knee injury during game right before finals. Got a sub 2.0 that quarter. Knee surgery middle of next semester. Got a sub 2.0. Gpa fell off a cliff the final 3 semesters. Also have insomnia that gets really bad before midterms/finals. Final semester I didn\u2019t give a shit about school and just fucked around, worked and networked. \n\nAlso worked 30 hrs a week plus two sports. \n\nI got the highest grade in re finance and development classes. I just didn\u2019t give a shit about classes in urban planning and they were actually pretty difficult. I wish I just stayed poly sci cuz I would\u2019ve graduated with a 3.5. \n\nIn terms of interest I\u2019ve had 5 real estate internships in college so the interest was there. It just doesn\u2019t show on a school level.", "replies": [{"id": "fgh9xaa", "text": "&gt;In terms of interest I\u2019ve had 5 real estate internships in college so the interest was there. It just doesn\u2019t show on a school level.\n\nThere you go. That's what you need to communicate to prospective employers. \n\n**De-emphasize your grades and emphasize your actual industry knowledge/experience/intangibles.** Just communicate to prospective employers that you fully-accept that your grades are slightly lower than they could've been because--since you were constantly busy with work, two-sports, and school--you rationally/consciously de-prioritized your course work in certain classes that were not beneficial to your development as a competent commercial real estate analyst (or broker's associate or whatever), so you could spend more time on more beneficial matters like doing well in the truly relevant to CRE classes, various internships, networking a ton, and etc.", "replies": [{"id": "fghb15p", "text": "I\u2019ve never been asked my grades ever besides this place. Most employers want 1-2 years of experience as I\u2019ve been told in rejection letters.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fggoe8t", "text": "I am 40 and I have never been asked my GPA. I wouldn't worry about it and tell that company to bite it.", "replies": [{"id": "fggy288", "text": "I wish I could. Gpa is retarded. But it\u2019s a lot more competitive world for entry level jobs now.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fggprhi", "text": "What was your GPA for classes in your Major only? If it's higher than your overall you could quote that.", "replies": [{"id": "fggq6dk", "text": "Really bad. I did really bad in classes outside of finance and development where I got the highest grades in the class. \n\nMinor gpa 3.6\n\nMajor gpa 2.2", "replies": [{"id": "fgh6qm9", "text": "Well just keep in mind that the most valued principles in the industry are Honesty and Integrity. I know its ironically hypocritical at times but it's still very important on paper. I think your GPA \"issue\"  is a fairly great way to exhibit that you embody these principles. \n\nIn the future tell them your actual GPA with Pride. \"I wasn't a perfect student, I earned a 2.8 but I learned the material while working 30 hours a week at (job) at the same time. I'm proud of what I accomplished even if its not reflected in my grades.\" \n\nPeople tend to value hard work and forthrightness.", "replies": [{"id": "fgh8h87", "text": "Yeah I know. I panicked and said a 3.1. I know what to say for the future.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fggq88h", "text": "Man, there's a lot in this thread. I can offer a couple thoughts\n\n1. Send the transcript as-is and don't say shit beyond that. Perhaps it's just a clerical level topic for them to check off a box before they hire you. Maybe they won't remember you said 3.0. Maybe they don't care that you had a 2.5. If your total undergrad GPA is 2.8, you're really not that far off. I would just send it in and let the cards fall. Worst case, you don't get the job.\n2. If beneficial, reconfigure your GPA based on your major-only coursework. One of those reasons GPA is sometimes a poor metric is they are always bolstered with meaningless classes like basic biology and oceanography that are easy As. What actually matters is how you did in the classes that are in your major. If that number is closer to what you said, you can include that as the explanation.", "replies": [{"id": "fggrytw", "text": "My major gpa is much worse than my overall gpa. I got an a in almost every poly sci class. Switched it to a minor to major in the new real estate major. Struggled a lot with the urban planning classes. \n\nThe only real estate classes I aced were development and finance. Got the highest grade in both classes. \n\nMy overall gpa including my previous colleges is a lot better.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fggt4s5", "text": "Just send it to them, they may not even check, they just want proof you took the required classes.\n\n\nThat being said: Don't ever fucking lie about your GPA. \n\nI'm living proof you can get a decent job with a low GPA. I was history teacher at one of the top 100 schools in the country with a 2.55 GPA. (My students scores were also top of the department,  your GPA isn't a dealbreaker or a marker of future success)", "replies": [{"id": "fggxyx3", "text": "Wouldn\u2019t it look bad when they see gpa in top corner and it says 2.5?", "replies": [{"id": "fgh8qgf", "text": "They may not look. They may not care. Hell, most Fortune 500 CEOs have a C average", "replies": [{"id": "fgh8xef", "text": "It\u2019s not they don\u2019t care it\u2019s the fact that I lied when they asked. It\u2019s a big red flag.\n\nHow do you feel about changing grades on transcript?", "replies": [{"id": "fgh95g3", "text": "No more lies, at any cost.  They may not remember what you told them before. Do not tamper with your transcript, just submit it.", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fggzfdh", "text": "You\u2019d be shocked at the amount of people who use some HEAVY rounding or just outright lie about their gpa on their resumes", "replies": [{"id": "fgh2iob", "text": "They want my actual transcripts. I know this isn\u2019t investment banking but I don\u2019t want a bad rep. \n\nMy overall including prior college I transferred from is a 2.85. Is it still worth sending?", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fgh1hd9", "text": "lied about GPA and was never outed (worked at CBRE/C&amp;W). No one checks in CRE in my experience", "replies": [{"id": "fgh2mgr", "text": "What if they want transcripts like in my case? Should send them or just magically forget? My gpa in a 2.5 but my overall if you include my prior colleges before transfer is like a 2.85-2.9. \n\nDid you have to send your transcripts?", "replies": [{"id": "fgh3ck3", "text": "I\u2019ve never had to send my transcripts anywhere. Honestly, I\u2019d just forge them. People will probably downvote this and whatnot, but I assure you that if you send them as they are and you get rejected because of it you\u2019ll wish you forged them. \u201cWhat about people who worked hard yadadada\u201d yeah okay being honest and getting yourself rejected from a job isn\u2019t going to pay the bills. Also it\u2019s not like biomedical engineering or something where your education is useful. Doesn\u2019t matter if you have an Econ degree from Penn or a forestry degree from university of Phoenix, nothing you learned in college will be applicable to CRE (unless you\u2019re doing like super high level (eight or nine figure) underwriting.)Even then, you\u2019ll learn on the job", "replies": [{"id": "fgh6aoy", "text": "I\u2019ve literally busted my ass at all my internships. Half of them were unpaid. I have my real estate license. I have financial modeling certification and taken Argus classes. I can build a 5 tier waterfall and a ground up development model pretty easily. I cold call companies and reach out on LinkedIn to people to talk to in the phone. Even doing high level underwriting isn\u2019t complicated. \n\nI shouldn\u2019t have to get held back over a gpa. Kids who barely have any experience and don\u2019t know anything about modeling or re are getting elite jobs because they went to Wharton. Ethically I don\u2019t give a shit about changing my grades. I\u2019m worried about me getting caught if they can somehow verify, it will ruin my reputation and I\u2019ll get fucked somehow. Am I better off just taking L then risking getting in deep shit?", "replies": [{"id": "fgh6syi", "text": "I agree 100%. Unless you authorize them to get official transcripts they will never find out. They cannot pull them without your consent. That\u2019s a FERPA violation and opens both the company and the school to litigation. \n\nAnd for what it\u2019s worth, I went to a top target and work in REPE and can\u2019t build a 5 tier waterfall. You\u2019re qualified for whatever job you\u2019re seeking", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}, {"id": "fgh3g8n", "text": "Open transcript as PDF in chrome, highlight grades, inspect element and change. Make sure GPA ties out. Then print to PDF and save on your desktop or whatever", "replies": [{"id": "fgh5ry9", "text": "I was thinking about doing this. Ethically I don\u2019t give a shit. But in terms of me getting found out about it. Should I be worried?", "replies": [{"id": "fgh6557", "text": "If this is for CBRE/C&amp;W/JLL or a smaller firm do it. If this is for Blackstone/Carlyle/Starwood/Goldman etc then don\u2019t as I could see them asking. I find it HIGHLY unlikely that they would ask for unofficial transcripts and then official. In the off chance they do ask for official, just fall off the map and stop responding. Don\u2019t dig yourself any further if that happens. If that happens it\u2019s no worse than applying and getting dinged for having bad grades", "replies": [{"id": "fgh6rhr", "text": "It\u2019s an repe firm that has about 3B in assets so not too large. I told them my official transcripts won\u2019t be ready for a while so they asked for unofficial.", "replies": [], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}, {"id": "fgh6a2u", "text": "For others reading this this guy is right for not giving a shit about ethics. You could move across the country and spend $1500/month to get an apartment near the office and if the deal volume falls they won\u2019t hesitate to cut you", "replies": [{"id": "fgh82oa", "text": "My last internship they terminated it without letting me know because my boss who was the acquisition director left abruptly and it pissed them off. I literally showed up and my desk had been cleared out and I didn\u2019t have access to anything. They were super rude about it. I didn\u2019t even call them back when they asked if I potentially wanted to say. It was unpaid too and I worked 30-40 hrs a week including weekends on top of school and sports. \n\nLike I said I just don\u2019t want to develop a reputation especially in la. But companies have straight up treated me like shit during the job search. Getting ghosted by companies after interviewing and having my resume personally sent to the principal. It\u2019s a fucking nightmare. I can build dynamic dcfs, 5 tier waterfalls, ground up for any asset class and nobody wants to hire me because I went to a non target and don\u2019t have 2+ of years of experience for an entry level. I have my real estate license, modeling certs and spend work day on the phones cold calling and networking. \n\nI need a real job. My loans are kicking in soon, I\u2019m running out of money, credit card and car insurance is going up a ton and working at a restaurant/bar at nights isn\u2019t enough to pay bills. \n\nSorry for the rant but it\u2019s fucking terrible.", "replies": [{"id": "fgh8ab6", "text": "Do whatever you have to to get the job. All the people who say don\u2019t lie arnt offering to help you", "replies": [{"id": "fgh8v90", "text": "Will it come out in the future. I\u2019m just worried about any potential blowback. There\u2019s been plenty people who have been outed. \n\nYou work in repe. As long as I keep my mouth shut I should be fine right?", "replies": [{"id": "fgh9fyi", "text": "Uhh I guess if you never leave and make your way to CEO and orchestrate the sale of the company to some giant financial institution that requires them to audit the background of the executives??? Seems a bit far fetched considering you\u2019ll probably be leaving this place in less than three years for an associate role somewhere else who won\u2019t ask about your GPA. Keep your mouth shut and if they offer you the job and ask for official transcripts you literally just stop responding. Listen dude you\u2019re seeking a first year analyst position. The CEO of that PE firm is not going to call Gerald Hines and tell him never to hire you", "replies": [{"id": "fgh9umx", "text": "I just tried copying the document from Mac preview. It made me put in a password. I\u2019m assuming it\u2019s easier on adobe?", "replies": [{"id": "fgha3vf", "text": "Print from your school website to PDF. Save the PDF. Open it again in chrome. Change it and save it", "replies": [{"id": "fghgfae", "text": "For now I\u2019m just gonna not even send it. For all I know they forget and never bother to ask. They sound like the type of company that asks for official.", "replies": [{"id": "fghh4oa", "text": "You do you. Hope you have another opportunity and don\u2019t think about what this could\u2019ve been", "replies": [{"id": "fghk194", "text": "Transcripts have been edited and ready to send if needed. Thanks for your help.", "replies": [], "depth": 14}], "depth": 13}], "depth": 12}], "depth": 11}], "depth": 10}], "depth": 9}], "depth": 8}], "depth": 7}], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fgh2mq0", "text": "A lot of people won't care. I bet if you just omit your gpa, at least a couple interviews won't even ask.", "replies": [{"id": "fgh6ey6", "text": "I\u2019ve never been asked about my gpa until today.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fgh5iwy", "text": "GPA isn't very important for any sales oriented career and any company that is serious about sales won't care either.\n\nI graduated with a 3.0 or 3.1. It's alright. When asked, I told them the truth:\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\n&gt;I wasn't all to enthused about the general education courses I didn't care for at all. Half way through school, I realized college wasn't what all that it was cracked up to be. I began to see it as an obstacle between myself and my career. I finished school to prove to myself that I can finish what I started.\n\nThe reason I didn't get hired wasn't because of my GPA, but because I didn't have any sales experience. \n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nThey did give me another interview a year later under the condition that I would go get a sales job selling anything: cars, phones, mortgages, anything to get some sales experience.\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nSomewhere along the line, I ended up on one of the top performing teams for \\*the\\* biggest company in a particular financial niche. GPA wasn't even brought up during the interview. All they cared about was that I was coachable and likable.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fgh7fri", "text": "Leave it off the resume, or scope it to relevant courses to the field (e.g. real estate finance: 3.8).  Have a good explanation for when you have to answer.", "replies": [{"id": "fgh84og", "text": "It\u2019s not even on my resume. They just asked over the phone so I panicked and said a 3.1.", "replies": [{"id": "fghaemd", "text": "Can you later qualify it by saying its in certain classes?  You might just be toast in this situation and need to figure out how to bow out of this one so you dont burn the bridge long term.  Get a job at another shop and try again in a couple years.", "replies": [{"id": "fghe30z", "text": "My major gpa was horrific outside of real estate finance and development. My minor gpa is very high.", "replies": [{"id": "fghh1ov", "text": "Sounds like me!  I put my real estate gpa on mine and packed the resume with relevant extracurriculars, jobs etc so it was diluted.  When asked about the cumulative I just said I didn\u2019t do as well and was very focused on my interests which was RE.  Then redirected it to the other stuff.  Didn\u2019t always work but it didnt matter after my first job and I dropped GPA entirely.  Fwiw.", "replies": [{"id": "fghverv", "text": "That\u2019s my best bet. My major was urban planning real estate development so it already looks bad. On to the best I guess.", "replies": [], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fghqnhl", "text": "How good is your network?\n\nFailing that, how relentless is your hustle?\n\nI had an unimpressive gpa out of uni too, and it took 3-4 years of networking and skills development to catch up financially with my 3.8+ classmates who walked straight into McKinsey or banking out of school.  Kobe levels of relentlessness.\n\nRe: the company you lied to, you're fucked.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]