GPA cutoffs vary widely by company, and even more so by interviewer. Strong academic performance is one the best ways to display a strong work ethic and an interest in your selected field. If you are from a target or semi-target and want to be safe for the GPA screening, you should work towards a 3.5 or higher. A GPA from 3.0 to 3.5 may give you some difficulties, and a GPA of under 3.0 will make it that much harder to break in. Anything above a 3.5 is considered good and above a 3.7 is impressive. Keep in mind that your GPA doesn't make up your entire resume. Strong internships or extracurricular activities can make up for a sub-3.5 GPA, but they better be damn good and you shouldn't count on them making up for your GPA.
From a non-target school, things get a lot more iffy. You could potentially break in with a 2.8 GPA, but that is the exception, not the rule. You really want to aim for a 3.7+ GPA with strong extracurricular activities. This will help overcome the stigma of attending an unknown school, as the less wild cards you have on your resume the better. Wall Street will not require conformity in every area, but the more areas that match the norm the more likely you are to receive an offer.
Finally, remember that networking can trump all of your shortcomings as a candidate if done properly.
Relevant Discussions:
Additional Resources:
- Relevant WSO Guides: Internship Guide and Networking Guide
- Relevant WSO Services: Finance Resume & Cover Letter Review and Wall Street Mentors
- Relevant WSO Forums: Get a Job and Public Resume Review Service
