GPA is ruining my life!

PcEhAoCsE
Thu, 10 Mar 2011 05:29:18 +0000

Either way, GPA doesn’t mean anything really.

As long as you try (and obtain) a good Co-Op now when your GPA is still pretty high, that GPA can drop to as low as a 2.6 and you’re still set for a job after graduating as long as 1) you graduate and 2) you perform admirably at the co-op.

Sure, the stories I hear (mine included) may have been exceptions but all the cases that I’ve seen where people had low GPAs with job offers seem to have the following in common:

1) They apply to everything (and some end up with better job offers than those with much higher GPAs)

2) They develop lots of skills (such as programming extensively)

3) Using these skills in independent projects (basically, do multiple senior design-like projects! Since you’re a CompE/EE major, I suggest you take ECE4175 (Embedded Microcontrollers (project class)), ECE4180 (Embedded Systems (project class)), ECE3090 (C++ Programming (final project)), ECE4580 (Computer Vision (final project)) There are a couple Systems&Control classes where a final project is required (Senior Level I believe), but I can’t remember them of the top of my head.

Companies love seeing you apply knowledge and skills you’ve gained either on your own or in class to projects. Not only that, these classes (though much more time-consuming) tend to be much more fun because they are hands-on and you actually learn applicability.

Mainly, what I’m trying to say is this; Don’t get discouraged over a low GPA (but try not to have it so low).