Got an offer at the Big 4 with a low GPA! AMA…

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    Topic
  • #189600
    MultiMediaWill
    Participant

    The feeling of receiving your first Big 4 Tax offer in an excellent Midwest city is amazing. I am so happy! Life has never been better 🙂

    Cumulative GPA: 3.47, average state school, 150 credits by May 2016.

    I got the verbal offer while I was driving home from my office visit last Friday, less than an hour after I left the office. I received the formal offer today, and I will be accepting it soon. In my opinion, I have average credentials, and below average for the typical Big 4 intern. How is it that people with 3.8+ GPA and every extracurricular in the book don’t even make second round yet someone like me with below average credentials somehow gets an offer?

    Regardless, I’m going to relax and enjoy my last 1.75 years in college before life gets real.

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 48 total)
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  • #615368
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Grades don't mean a thing. E.g. think of CPA exam scores. If you have no life and just study, you may get a 99. But that really doesn't mean you're “smarter” than the pregnant mother of 2 who works a day job that managed to get a 75.

    Extracurricular are a good indicator of balance and a few other check the list stuff, but ultimately all of that is just to get you an interview IMO.

    Ultimately, if you're going to have to work with someone everyday, I think the most important question is “Can I work with this person every single day?”. And that comes down to personality and assessment of personal character (does this person look enthusiastic, willing to learn, genuine, trust worthy, etc).

    Just put yourself in their shoes. What kind of person would you want to work with and how would you assess that?

    #615369
    snargaluff
    Member

    Congratulations!!

    I have office visits next week and actually, my GPA is lower than yours…

    So did anyone ask you about your gpa? If so, what did you say or what would you say?

    Did they ask about specific classes from your transcript?

    I'm really worried that my low gpa will cause me to become second backup choice or worse, rejected!

    #615370
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I say it's all like dating. Yeah, money, jobs, cars, etc may be contributing factors, but it's all down to the personality in the end.

    #615371
    snargaluff
    Member

    Oh okay I guess that is somewhat relieving..

    People say I have a great personality, but I guess I might have a more difficult showing it when put into situations like interviews. I feel like everyone is constantly evaluating my answers to see if they're intelligent enough or something.

    And also if they start asking technical things about accounting and my low gpa..

    #615372
    MultiMediaWill
    Participant

    @snargaluff

    During the first 5 minutes of my interview, one of the tax partners looked at my transcript and said, “I noticed you don't like science classes.” He was referring to my two C's in Organic Chemistry and Biology. I replied with an explanation about how I didn't know what I actually wanted to do during my first two years at college, thus resulting in poor performance in my classes.

    #615373
    June2016
    Participant

    Is this gpa for your undergrad or grad?

    #615374
    MultiMediaWill
    Participant

    @Positivethoughts

    Undergrad GPA. I am the beginning of my 4th year of undergrad. My 5th year, to earn the extra 30 credits, will either be MAcc or double major in finance, depending on how motivated I am.

    #615375
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    What am I missing here? 3.4 is not low, we recruit tons of people even around our limit of 3.2. Low would be less than 3.0.

    #615376
    MOcpa2015
    Member

    @ bigfourexpert

    That's exactly what I was thinking… a 3.47 gpa isn't low at all, even for the big 4.

    I got an interview at Deloitte with a 2.8 gpa. I didn't receive an offer, but they considered me as a candidate even with a 2.8.

    Getting into the big 4 with a 3.47 isn't exactly AMA worthy.

    Using CPAExcel + Wiley Test Bank

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    #615377
    stoleway
    Participant

    OK, I hope you're not trying grab attention for yourself because 3.47 is not a low GPA, go figure.

    REG -63│ 84!!
    BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
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    #615378
    MultiMediaWill
    Participant

    My 3.47 GPA is low for my tier of school. It's an easier state school so getting a high GPA is relatively easier. The only other people I know from my school who received an offer have gpa's above 3.8.

    #615379
    waffle_house
    Participant

    I thought OP was going to say he had a gpa <3.2 I was disappointed 🙁

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 75
    FAR - 84
    REG - 76
    Exams started Sep 2014 -Exams done Mar 2017

    Texas CPA

    I put in work, it was evident

    #615380
    MultiMediaWill
    Participant

    Don't lose hope! I got a first round interview with PwC last year with a 3.22 cumulative GPA. Anything is possible.

    #615381
    acamp
    Participant

    Smells like a humble brag!!!

    Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

    California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

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    California CPA

    #615382
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    op, just stahp.. pls

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 48 total)
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