do i really need to get above 3.5 for top tier mba programs?
A 3.3 GPA can be overcome if you’re aiming for MBA Programs: years of experience, an excellent GMAT score, good intuition and hard work leading to great recs, etc. However, a 3.3 GPA cannot be overlooked when applying to an i-banking job directly out of undergrad. For most of these, you won’t even get an interview, much less a job, with a 3.6 or higher (some leeway given to Engineering students). There’s a reason it’s hard; some of the most coveted jobs out of undergrad (consulting/I-Banking) are obviously going to want only the best applicants, and by definition not everyone can be the best. If it was easy, everyone would do it. Sometimes it can just be about funding what you like to study and excelling at it; you’re only a freshman so you still have some time to bring up that GPA.
