WHAT’S MORE IMPORTANT: LEADERSHIP & INVOLVEMENT OR GPA?
One side believes that GPA is the end-all. If you strive for a 4.0 and are somewhat successful, you will be able to land multiple opportunities. Some companies have “target GPAs” so these candidates get more interviews.
On the other hand, getting involved on campus, especially taking on a leadership position, can set you apart from your peers and give you real-world experience working with teams and solving business challenges.
Yes, both are important but in the end, you will have to prioritize one over the other.
I actually posted a LinkedIn Poll and over 100,000 people saw it.
Check out the LinkedIn Poll here.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝?
I think GPA helps you land an interview but leadership/involvement helps you advance past The Final Round and secure the offer. And if you struggle with keeping a high GPA, that is where effective networking and landing referrals come in!
In my first year in college, I put everything I had into getting a good GPA. I quickly realized that I was not seeing great results compared to how hard I was studying and the long nights I spent in the library. And trust me, I sacrificed way too many Saturday nights to not receive straight A’s.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐨?
I spent less time studying (still maintained a decent GPA) and more time getting involved.
Fast forward a few semesters, and I was:
+ President of the Latino Business Student Association (LBSA)
+ Awarded “Most Outstanding President Award” out of 20k undergrads
+ Case Team Lead for the Marshall International Case Competition Team
+ Interned at 5 companies including The Walt Disney Company
Now I am NOT saying to tank your GPA since it is still important. All I am saying is that leadership and involvement can set you apart from the competition and lead to an incredible story, one of impact and initiative.
Many companies still have target GPAs (such as 3.5+/4.0) so try to keep your GPA as high as possible. And grad schools care about your GPA if you plan to attend higher education.
I talk more about how involvement beats GPA in this Opal podcast episode with Mariah Manzano 🌟:
What are your thoughts? Is Your GPA More Important Than Leadership & Involvement?
I mean, Recruiters look for you to take INITIATIVE, as explained in the blog post here.
