I think Stefanie got it correct. GPA matters in the lack of applicable experience. Getting applicable experience will help much more at helping you get a job when you are done than your specific GPA. It's hard to graduate from engineering and be totally unemployable. But, you need to graduate.
When I review a candidate, what they have done "off the field or outside the classroom" is weighed as heavily as GPA or "in the class activities." This ties in with the curriculum discussion going on in another discussion stream. I am looking for an employee that is disciplined, is flexible, can manage time, learn new things, and ask questions when over their head. So a candidate with a 3.95 GPA (out of 4.0) that has never had a summer job, never volunteered for anything, does not participate in their social or career societies will always rank lower to me than a 3.0 who worked every summer, participated in student societies, or better yet volunteers as an officer, volunteers at a dog rescue, boy scout troop, or habitat for humanity project regularly, is a practicing black belt in judo, or maybe works during the school year, or has directly relevant experience. I am always looking for someone that can multitask, not take tests and do math problems.
GPA matters, but life experiences matter more. I guess Stefanie would have never interviewed me for an internship position because I never achieved more than one or two A's per semester. I did play basketball, soccer, broomball, participated in boy scouts, worked for 4 months every 4 months in the CO-OP program, and came out of school debt free. I am glad those employers that hired me looked at the whole person, and the previous experiences instead of just GPA. The experiences that they provided me continue to provide me with benefits 30 years later.
So how can you get relevant experience. Here are some ideas:
1. Go to work for a construction company in the summer during non-school times. Learning how to turn a backhoe will go a long way in teaching you how to design a detention pond or utility system.
2. Volunteer or intern at an engineering company, surveyor or planning company during the non-school year, or even during the school year.
3. Volunteer for habitat for humanity, engineers without borders, engineer's in action. You will meet employed engineers that can help you get your foot in the door at a future paid position.
4. Become active in your civil or environmental engineering society at school, and be an officer.
5. Participate in your school's experience opportunities.
6. Work as a research assistant.
7. Always be actively managing your next employment encounter by taking advantage of appropriate social activities with Alumni and other potential employers.
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Dwayne Culp, Ph.D., P.E., P.Eng, M.ASCE
Culp Engineering, LLC
Rosenberg TX
(713)898-1977
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-05-2018 02:53
From: Bradley Novacek
Subject: How Much Does GPA Matter?
GPA matters to some employers. Does it matter to the student? It may actually represent one's grasp of the body of knowledge or it may mean that person is good at studying and test taking but is totally lost in applying the knowledge. It is most important you actually understand the material and how to apply it.
Not sure of the course of study in Tanzania, but if you are taking mostly general math, science and other basic courses the first two years and then a more engineering class based study the later years, you may find you do better in your specific area of engineering study. If so, you can always split the course work and grades and generate a GPA for your engineering classes vs. basic math, science and elective classes. Then you can have both your overall GPA and engineering major GPA available to provide when asked. There was a large difference between those in my personal case and having both available helped. Sometimes it takes a year or two to settle in and learn how to learn.
Just remember, basic math is at work here. You can't raise it above the grades you earn in each class! If you earn 3.2 from here out, it will approach that level but never exceed it. You need to achieve highly to raise it significantly. Unfortunately, the first year or two are important in your ultimate grade point. Best efforts to you!
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Bradley Novacek P.E., M.ASCE
CIP Manager
Phoenix AZ
(602)9561477
Original Message:
Sent: 09-04-2018 11:37
From: Chad Morrison
Subject: How Much Does GPA Matter?
The good news here is you have time to boost your GPA! GPA matters to some employers. Some employers will specifically ask for it in their application. Do not provide it on your resume. If you are asked about it during an interview, you need to provide an honest answer regardless if you choose to give them the number or not. It is just a number. You may have other qualities that the employer sees in you that they like.
How to boost your GPA? No shortcut for hard work. Ask questions, reach out to experts you find here. Find a tutor or mentor. Be resourceful. If you don't know the answer find a source that does. If you are not a good test taker, ask the university or professors to make accommodations for you if you need them.
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Chad Morrison P.E., M.ASCE
Professional Engineer
Greenville RI
Original Message:
Sent: 09-04-2018 06:05
From: Alfred Patrick
Subject: How Much Does GPA Matter?
Hi fellows,
Currently I am a student at a certain university in Tanzania. My Problem is GPA, the first year i got 2.9 (Max GPA is 5) and this year i got almost 2.5 GPA, this scared me, can i even get a Job with this GPA? what can I do to achieve a better GPA in my third and fourth years of studies?
I want to have at least a 3.5 GPA. Thank you!
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Amor Omnia Vincit
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