Possible to get an internship with 2.8 GPA?

New / Other
MZA

New Other

BIO
Graduate Researcher @ USC - Information Sciences Institute
MZA
Sep 30, 2019 15 Comments

In 2nd Semester of Master's, which started Spring '19 (at a top 5 CS uni in California). 1st Sem got screwed up bad (a family member passed away), took a lot of time to get back on track. Apart from that, profile is pretty decent, as I am a hard-working guy.
Undergrad GPA : 3.77
3 Research Publications in undergrad
2 Research internships in undergrad
Multiple leadership roles both in Undergrad and in Grad.
Grad profile :
Currently a grad researcher at a top research institute at my uni here(4 selected out of 150 applicants). Have participated in hackathons here (even finished 6th out of 42 teams in self-driving car one). Have multiple projects.
Recruiters from Amazon, Lyft and Salesforce gave their personal emails and asked my resume at ICML this year. I guess I am pretty good at soft skills and at giving a pitch. But I felt held back bcz of my current 2.8 GPA, so didn't reply. Not even confident enough to attend career fairs, most companies ask for minimum 3.0 for internships. I won't be able explain why my GPA is low. Although , I am confident that by end of MS I will have at least 3.3+. With utmost sincerity, I just need some guidance from the experienced people out there, after knowing about my background. It's high time on internship season. I am grateful for any advice you guys give. Thanks.

Leetcode - 105 | Python
TC : 48K
Yoe : 0

comments

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TOP 15 Comments
  • VMware
    tSDh65

    Go to company page VMware

    tSDh65
    I donโ€™t think GPAs matter a lot. As someone pointed out here, no need to mention it on the resume. Only if youโ€™re a resident alien here on a student visa thereโ€™s something like a minimum Gpa of 3.0 to get your CPT approved if I remember correct. Otherwise you should be good. Go ahead and start applying.
    Sep 30, 2019 0
  • Amazon / Eng
    BHGHEUJSH

    Go to company page Amazon Eng

    BHGHEUJSH
    Some really brilliant people are not good at taking test. As a hiring manager, I care least about your GPA. GPA doesnโ€™t tell me weather you can take pressure and learn on the fly. So I would rather be interested in your completed projects , internship and your tech savviness than your no-measure GPA. I Never ever asked anyone for GPA. Mine was 2.98 and Now my TC is 450. So screw the GPA and get to work.
    Sep 30, 2019 2
    • New / Other
      MZA

      New Other

      MZA
      OP
      Thanks a lot, your words seriously reinforced my confidence back. I am seriously gonna go all in for this, will definitely update later.
      Sep 30, 2019
    • Amazon / Eng
      Pint0Beans

      Go to company page Amazon Eng

      Pint0Beans
      Go for it man, after middle school,high school is a reset, after high school, college is a reset and right after graduation new job is a reset. One doesnโ€™t define how well you do in the next. So you graduate and start fresh. Go all in. You will be very successful . Just donโ€™t get comfortable and keep pushing yourself. Good luck and GodSpeed
      Sep 30, 2019
  • Uber
    ๐ŸŒ Bananas

    Go to company page Uber

    PRE
    Uber
    ๐ŸŒ Bananas
    The person who wrote cracking the coding interview had a 2 point something gpa
    Sep 30, 2019 2
  • Yelp / Eng
    โ‡๏ธ

    Go to company page Yelp Eng

    PRE
    Cruise Automation
    โ‡๏ธ
    I graduated with a 2.4 gpa and got jobs anyway
    Sep 30, 2019 1
  • Facebook
    tc_or_gtfo

    Go to company page Facebook

    tc_or_gtfo
    FAANG here, had a 2.6 GPA and still got an internship
    Sep 30, 2019 0