<p>Currently I’m in my last semester of college. I have a 3.65 GPA and am set to work in the finance department of a BB bank (finance rotational) upon graduation.</p>
<p>Because a CPA designation is well-respected in corporate finance, I am studying for that alongside my 15 credits of school work. I have all the energy to study for the CPA, but have been getting a SERIOUS case of senioritis in regards to my class work. Ideally, I would like to get the majority of my CPA studies finished prior to starting work because I can’t imagine how tough it will be to look at financial statements for 12+ hrs a day and then study for the CPA after work. Also, because this is my last semester of “freedom” I would like to spend some free time with friends/partying rather than be in a library all day studying.</p>
<p>The only thing that worries me about neglecting school work is lowering my GPA. I am planning to apply to a top MBA program 5-6 yrs down the road, and I want to be as competitive as possible. Some say that I should work hard until the end and others say that I should chill out because anything above a 3.5 is pretty much the same. What do you guys think? </p>
<p>Even if I get straight B’s this semester, I would still have above a 3.5 and not worrying about school would take A LOT of stress off my back. If a 3.5 and a 3.7 doesn’t make a material difference in terms of strength on my application, I wouldn’t care about getting A’s this semester.</p>
<p>Also, if I have a 3.5 GPA, 700+GMAT, CPA, and CFA, would that make me competitive for a top MBA (not necessarily H/S/W)?</p>
<p>i just graduated with honors in december 2008. i already have a full time position lined up starting in june '09 and i decided to study abroad even after i have my degree and job. and guess what? i’m more active now than ever. i’m forming a student organization abroad, participating actively on campus, and studying my ASS off. i don’t know what senioritis is - simply because i had to work hard my entire life and not working hard doesn’t sit well with me. i don’t know what my ambitions are yet - but it certainly doesn’t involve slacking off.</p>
<p>thats my opinion - hopefully it’ll motivate you to do well your last semester.</p>
<p>Yes, but you have to think about cost-benefit. In the case that I work my ass off in my classwork and get straight A’s, I will have something like a 3.75 GPA, and in the case that I get straight B’s I will have something like a 3.54. I will be willing to work hard this semester if having a 3.75 makes a large difference in terms of my application compared to having a 3.54, but many have said that having a GPA of 3.5 and 3.7 isn’t that different for MBA admissions. What would be the point of busting my ass off if having straight A’s is meaningless?</p>
<p>And also, by slacking off on my schoolwork, I am able to focus more on studying for the CPA. If it is true that a 3.5 and a 3.7 isn’t materially different in terms of my attractiveness to adcoms, it would be a much more effective use of my time studying for the CPA rather than for coursework that has no relevance to my future goals. </p>
<p>So, I am still going to be working my ass off. The question is where to work my ass off (CPA or school).</p>
<p>HAHA, you’re sounding like me buddy, all or nothing all the time. Why don’t you just try for something in the middle, instead of all A’s, or all B’s, go for half and half. Use the extra time you save to get your CPA and party, yet it will still look good on your transcripts and not give the impression that you’re the type that quits before the finish line. I would try hard not to deviate too much from what your transcript currently looks like. If you have abou a 3.6 now, aim for about the same your last semester. It might not make any material difference in terms of your GPA being high enough, but it speaks more to your character.</p>