How to get an accounting internship with a low GPA
A low accounting GPA makes it a real struggle to secure initial internships or full-time return offers. Candidates must actively hunt for open positions and rely on heavy networking to compensate for grades below a 3.3. Students dealing with this issue also frequently worry that their low test scores might signal future struggles with the CPA exams.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Applying extensively to internships for weeks or monthsDid this help you?
- 2Targeting smaller or mid-sized firms instead of Big 4 or top companiesDid this help you?
- 3Omitting GPA from the resumeDid this help you?
- 4Starting in roles like AP, AR, or bookkeeping to gain experienceDid this help you?
- 5Studying full-time for the CPA exam after graduationDid this help you?
- 6Asking a friend or personal connection for a direct referral.Did this help you?
- 7Highlighting impressive extracurricular activities like leading a society.Did this help you?
- 8Playing up relevant past work experience during interviews.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“For those who had “low” (in terms of recruiting) GPAs below 3.3, can lots of networking make up for a low GPA? I think I might hover around 3.0 - 3.5 at the highest.”source ↗
“Worried that this will affect my career. I have a mid sized internship in the winter, but I’m worried about no possible return offer due to my gpa.”source ↗
“Accounting GPA is a 2.67 with a lot of work needed to raise it.”source ↗
“How important is GPA, are my low test scores a reflection on how I’ll do for on the CPA exams?”source ↗
“How were you able to find an internship. I have a 3.4 and can’t find anything and a major gpa of 3.6.”source ↗
“Yeah you will really struggle for internships or offers from that. You will need to actively hunt for stuff”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 13How to hide a low GPA on a job application
- 13Should I take a very low-paying entry-level job out of desperation?
- 11Is it normal to have no training or supervision on a new job?
- 4Overall GPA vs major GPA on resume
- 7How to stop getting irrelevant job offers from recruiters
- 2How to grade trash student work without sugarcoating it