i586

Ive already gotten the job I have wanted my entire life, so im good for now. I don't need to fool around with stupid statics problem sets, give me a real problem that hasn't been solved already, thats what Il do.

Life is tests, but not hand written ones.

lkf725

If you have mediocre grades, how do you prove to a potential employer that you are actually brilliant but just can't show it? And why would an employer take a chance on your say so?

Congrats on getting the job of your dreams. You are lucky indeed.

i586

Um you show them projects and such. My resume is long, ive worked on alot of teams, ive done research. I just let them know in the interview who I am and what I know. You cant say that tests and grades mean everything. I have a learning disability and suck at tests, but how does that say I am a bad engineer, hell no it doesn't. It doesn't because I excelled in labs and my professors knew I knew the material, I just sucked at tests. All of my referrals were great, even though I had low grades.

I have done a lot also, I have done Google Summer of code 2x in a row, worked for Atto, IBM and in the labs at my school. I have done research in VSLI, I did a lot of graduate level research, ive worked in my schools Cedar program in handwriting recognition, as well as data mining for the USPS. Ive done a lot projects to. I have all of this documented and have very high words from my professors.

So I didn't need good grades, because I couldn't of done the research and projects if I didn't know the material. Its sad that most classes are basses mostly on tests, but thats how it is and i am already through it.


I have alot of friends on different online forums, many engineers whom I talk to frequently and some even work in HR. Ive been told by them that grades rarely matter and thats what reassured me a few years ago. Guess what they were 100% correct.

hinmanCEO

i586, you are special. most people with 2.8's don't have time to do EC's cuz their grades suck.

truth: most employers(EE-based, not tech stuff) seek employees with GPA's from 3.0-3.6

A lot of employers (not the top tier) rather not have people with super-high GPA's because the guys with 4.0's are usually more independent and arrogant, might not get hired into those BIG companies, or just get offers same as Mr. 3.0 but of course mr. 4.0 gets recruited from graduate schools and big names like GOOGLE and the bunch.

But unless you got a huge resume like i586 and get lucky... maybe he/she is URM, a 2.8 does not really cut it. But don't lose hope if you got something between a 3.0 and a 3.6, majority of companies REALLY want you.

lkf725

So, do you tell employers that your gpa is low because you have a learning disability? Maybe it depends upon what that disability is. I am curious because I know someone like this.

Employers probably know that students with learning disabilities get all sorts of additional help, such as extra time on tests, exemption from certain required classes, typed sets of class notes prepared for them by note-takers, etc. Wouldn't being a person, no matter how smart, who needs all of these special considerations be a detriment to being hired? (unless mayabe that counts as hiring a disabled person???)

i586, are you hired as an intern, or are you hired as a graduate?

(BTW, I know all of the companies who were looking for interns at my son's school were very interested in high gpa's, and most did have lower cut-off numbers.)

i586

The only people who know I have a learning disability is my mother brother and now you, i don't accept any extra help or extended time and such. Ive had to take every class anybody else did. so I don't and never will accept extra help. I'm to proud for that.

I was a Intern last year, now I am an employee. I guess they liked me enough to give me a shot.

everybody is different and well frm what I have seen while in school, the kids who get the super high grades aren't going to be good engineers, the kids with ok gpa like a 3.3-3.5 are the best of the best. though like me you cant judge a book by its cover, which is my transcript.

lkf725

I was asking because beyond college, people don't tend to discuss such things. As I said, maybe it depends upon the type or degree of your disability. The services I mentioned are available in colleges for those who need them. You didn't tell anyone, which is a personal choice. But if it is something that may become obvious, perhaps full disclosure is the smart way to go.

Congrats on the job. It is a testament to performing well in an internship or co-op in order to make you an attractive candidate for hire.

kkamida11

I agree with hinmanCEO.

Big picture: ->"Usually"<- students with higher GPAs and students who attend top schools get better jobs and better salaries.

That's the whole point of gpas and school rankings...to give something to measure potential cantidates for employment. I think that ECs and work experiences are another way to prove that you are an able employee. I guess i586 did a good job on that. (Rare case)

Therefore I think that for graudate school, gpa is usually more important than the ECs.

hinmanCEO

agreed. grad school is all about test scores and GPA. but research experience helps a lot if u wanna PhD it up

i586

graduate school is a waste of time, I am going to work for a few years then getting a phd probably, ibm will pay for it. so its great.

kkamida11

No... graduate school might be a waste of time for you... and I also think that the phD would be a waste of time for you if IBM is doing you so well.

But not for the majority who are seeking phD's... Graduate school gives good research and class experiences.

If graduate school was a waste of time, "graduate" school wouldn't be so popular in the first place...

And I think you've already established the point of how ibm is serving you well... I don't think further notice on your success is necessary for this thread.

milki

With i586s rudeness and troll bait-like statements, I'm beginning to question if he's a troll.

UriA702

A 3.8 gpa. THEIR stuff.
You don't capitalize after a comma.
GPA is an acronym and therefore is capitalized.
a period is placed at the end of a sentence.
your writing is full of misspelled words, subordinate clauses, misplaced and dangling modifiers, sentence fragments, faulty paragraphing skills, etc. etc..
If those happened to be the skills IBM is looking for, they would of been out of business decades ago.

Anyone who makes the assumption GPA plays no role in employers consideration of future employees obviously has no clue about how anything in the world works.

You have a learning disability, yet you managed to achieve passing scores in classes such as advanced physics, advanced chemistry, differential equations, linear algebra, computer science, engineering thermodynamics, introduction to electrical engineering, CAD, and calculus courses?

Since you work for IBM heres a question for you - what is the procedure for calculating resistance circuit using Ohm’s law?

milki

Adding to Uri's list

*then get a Phd, IBM will pay for it. So, it's great.

i586

I talk how I talk and I am who I am, I guess I do have the skills ibm is looking for.

are you saying a person with a learning disability could not pass the classes you mentioned. your nuts, ive pass em em all already. and don't ask me stupid questions, questions that could easily be found over the internet, by a simple good search.

If you believe me, thats great, if not, thats ok also. I don't care. im putting in place here what I know to be true.