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Ask HN: GPA on Resume (Failed Out Freshman Year and Returned)
Hi all,
When applying for jobs, I fear being judged for having initially failed out of school due to mental illness even though my grades--and entire life--have turned around since.
I started college in 2011, unfortunately, I developed fairly severe manic depression. Reluctant to return home, I pushed through three semesters anyway, and my GPA slowly tanked each semester: 2.8, 1.7, 0.5. Cumulatively, that's 1.5.
Years later, after working as a software engineer, I decided to finish my degree (same school), mostly to prove I could finish. And I just finished! My GPA this time around has been a 3.7--including several graduate level math courses. I also double majored.
My cumulative GPA, including the time I failed out, however, barely scrapes above a 3.0.
Now for the conundrum. I've heard from many people that not listing my GPA is a red flag, while a breath later saying the 3.0 would raise concerns.
- Do I just list the 3.0 and hide the fact that I failed out?
- Do I list the 3.7 and the 1.5 and give additional context?
- How much context should I give on the resume? The interview?
- Should I just not list the grade point average?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
- janhenr 5y agoHi there! What you could do is give a GPA just for your major courses (which are more likely to be later in your curriculum).
- sambroner 5y agoFirst of all, congratulations on getting back on the horse! I can only imagine the journey from depression and leaving school to Software Engineering was impressive in its own right. Don't lie, but I would try find a way to show a strong GPA if possible. Focusing on in major courses could help. Or just list some number of "deans-list" awards if such a thing exists. Were all these grades at the same school? Another option is to do a GPA just for one of the institutions. Worst case... School from 2018 - 2020: 3.7, with school from 2011 -2013 on another line. Regardless, great work...
- throwawaygpa 5y agoThanks! It's the same school. I could still split up the GPAs. I'm just worried what's going to happen when someone see's a 1.5.
- drost 5y agoSome of the big tech companies may want your GPA. But it has never come up for me. I graduated in 2019 at 29 years old. Got a D in my final quarter, which tanked my GPA below 2.0 (since I was a transfer student). I didn't qualify to graduate with a B.S. anymore (unless I retook that class), so switched my degree to B.A. in C.S.