Grad GPA 4.0, Postbacc GPA 3.9, Undergrad 2.6: Can i list 2 out of 3 on CV?

[theWUbear]

I've had this conversation with a few people with mixed opinions. Right now, my CV lists my GPA's corresponding to my graduate school institution (4.0) and the institution where i did my post-bacc (3.9). I did not list GPA at my undergrad school. My dad, though recognizing and understanding other opinions, says this isn't dishonest; the CV is for putting yourself out there and showing your strengths and he says "if they ask for it be upfront about it but no need to put your weakness on your CV".

Other people have told me "you have to be consistent with your CV. You either always include GPAs or you never do. It’s up to you what to do, but I think not including it makes it suspicious, or it makes it seem like you didn’t review your CV and made a mistake."

What do you guys think?

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[eli20]

Id agree with your dad. Resumes/CVs aren't applications and you really shouldn't put negative things on them. As long as your post Bac gpa is clearly marked as that, and not getting passed off as undergrad then I think it's not an issue. Don't lie but certainly edit, I think the usual recommendation (at least for resumes/cvs in a typical job environment) is to not include gpas <3.3.

That being said, I'm not as familiar with typical protocol if this is a CV for a more academic based position.

 

[FIREitUP]

I would just put the grad GPA on there so it doesn't look suspect that you conspicuously left out one but put the other two. By putting just grad GPA you are showing the most relevant, difficult, and most recent GPA, which makes it look less suspect IMO. Plus, it's 4.0 🙂

 

[exptherainbow]

If I saw an application that listed a GPA for your post-bacc and grad work but not your undergrad I would likely be suspicious, but I'm not sure if I would be as suspicious if you listed only a GPA for grad work (since it was your most recent academic work). However, I would probably air on the no GPAs at all side, although it's a difficult thing to give advice on without knowing the type of position you are applying for. If you are asked, of course you will need to own up to your low undergraduate GPA and give a reasonable (honest) explanation as to why it happened and how you achieved such a phenomenal improvement in your graduate work.

If they are really concerned about your GPA they will require transcripts, but most institutions weigh your most recent work more heavily than your older work in making decisions.

 

[theWUbear]

The "grad school only" idea is one I hadn't thought of and one that makes good sense (as the 'most recent'). The post-bacc "deans list" marking for every semester will speak for itself without me listing the GPA.


I have been using this CV mostly to send to LOR writers and ADCOM members with whom I have arranged meetings. When one applies to medical school through AMCAS is there a way to include the CV? Or do some schools request/accept it? Or none? Thanks for the information. I will probably have to go all or none in that situation

 

[r1012]

The "grad school only" idea is one I hadn't thought of and one that makes good sense (as the 'most recent'). The post-bacc "deans list" marking for every semester will speak for itself without me listing the GPA.


I have been using this CV mostly to send to LOR writers and ADCOM members with whom I have arranged meetings. When one applies to medical school through AMCAS is there a way to include the CV? Or do some schools request/accept it? Or none? Thanks for the information. I will probably have to go all or none in that situation

On a CV for a job, I'd do the most recent (aka grad) gpa, as others have said here. AMCAS will calculate your GPA for you after you put in all your courses and they verify your transcripts, so med schools will see all of those GPAs (which seems fine in your case, given your post-bacc/grad work). You don't think you can include a CV as such on AMCAS, but you will essentially enter it all in the "Work & Activities" section. I think some med schools allow you to upload additional documents such as a CV on their secondary, and you could certainly send one on its own to schools that accept additional documents.

 

[Laryngophed]

If you hand me a CV with a graduate GPA and post-bacc sans undergrad GPA, I might throw it in the trash because you are clearly trying to hide something from me. So you underperformed as an undergrad? Welcome to the club. Include it, own your mistakes and demonstrate a thorough sense of responsibility, honesty, and maturity.

 

[235009]

never put a bad GPA (usually thought to be < 3.5) on your resume/CV

i recommend not putting any GPA on there at all ...sucks that you can't show off your 3.9 and 4.0 but that's the position you put yourself in when you graduate with a poor GPA.

as for the grad school only option....noone is going to be impressed with a 4.0 in grad school but they will absolutely be suspicious if some academic work has a GPA listed and some doesn't. When you see that you automatically assume that the unlisted GPAs were tragic.

Include it, own your mistakes and demonstrate a thorough sense of responsibility, honesty, and maturity.

terrible advice. if i were to see a bad GPA i wouldn't think "oh how mature of this person to include this" ...i'd be thinking "wow this person is a ***** for including this" as i chuck it in the trash

a resume/CV is basically your way of advertising yourself ...when was the last time you saw a TV or print ad where they say negative things about their product? (except for drugs, but that's a special case)

 

[Potatoman1800]

Don't put those GPAs. Your CV will look cleaner without all of those numbers.

 

[familyaerospace]

I'm another one that says no GPA on CV. I used to put it on when I was in college and now looking back on it, I cringe that I did it because it wasn't that professional.

 

[Longshanks]

Why would you ever put a GPA on your CV? I know the business fools and the vain types put it on their resumes, but a CV? Put something substantial. I'd rather hire someone who has research experience and an understanding of publications/grants than someone with a decent/strong GPA but hasn't got a clue about the academic environment, or whatever work environment I was hiring for. And regarding the 2.9, you never put something negative on your CV or resume. You're trying to sell yourself.

Putting a GPA on a resume is entirely vain and unprofessional. Its similar to someone telling your their bra size or whats in their trousers - it tells you nothing substantial about the person.. oh other than that they're pathetic and their self-esteem is as fragile as a wine glass.

 

[eli20]

Again I think it depends heavily on what you're applying for and whether it is a resume or a CV. A lot of people expect gpas on resumes and a lack of one usually indicates it was bad. CVs are usually for academic positions and the conventions are different.

 

[dbeast]

You're supposed to put your GPA on your CV? Not so sure about this... Especially if you've already graduated.

 

[235009]

Putting a GPA on a resume is entirely vain and unprofessional. Its similar to someone telling your their bra size or whats in their trousers - it tells you nothing substantial about the person.. oh other than that they're pathetic and their self-esteem is as fragile as a wine glass.

always amused by how passionate people are about something they know nothing about...

from the virginia tech career website:
In technical fields, employers tend to place high importance on GPA, they want to know it, and they are going to ask for it eventually. That's just a fact of life. In fields in which employers care about GPA, if you leave your GPA off, you risk employers assuming that it is very low.

from careerbuilder.com:
Although employers may not automatically cut you for your low grades, leaving your GPA off of your resume completely may do you more harm than good. If you're a new grad and omit your GPA from your resume, you might find employers warily wondering how terrible your grades really are. One career adviser even said if there's no GPA on a resume, he automatically assumes it's under a 3.0.

and those r just two of the first three results when you google "gpa on resume"

so no, it is neither vein nor unprofessional and omitting it would usually be a "red flag" to use a term SDNers would understand

 

[FlowRate]

always amused by how passionate people are about something they know nothing about...

from the virginia tech career website:
In technical fields, employers tend to place high importance on GPA, they want to know it, and they are going to ask for it eventually. That's just a fact of life. In fields in which employers care about GPA, if you leave your GPA off, you risk employers assuming that it is very low.

from careerbuilder.com:
Although employers may not automatically cut you for your low grades, leaving your GPA off of your resume completely may do you more harm than good. If you're a new grad and omit your GPA from your resume, you might find employers warily wondering how terrible your grades really are. One career adviser even said if there's no GPA on a resume, he automatically assumes it's under a 3.0.

and those r just two of the first three results when you google "gpa on resume"

so no, it is neither vein nor unprofessional and omitting it would usually be a "red flag" to use a term SDNers would understand

This is what I have been told in CV seminars and in our combined public speaking/business/internship/cv/etc. class. If your gpa is <3.0 (definitely, can't remember if she recommended <3.25), then you leave it off the application. If it's >3.8, you always put it on the application.