I recently found a job description that is absolutely perfect for me - an assistant director fundraising position at a small very-private liberal arts college in the area. I meet all of their requirements, and the job is exactly what I’ve been looking for. There are several people that I work for who are alum of this school, and two of them (one of whom is a major contributor) made a phone call yesterday to their director giving them full support of my application (wow!).
But they’re also asking for college transcripts.
The problem is thus:
(1) My transcripts suck. Undergrad was spent being extremely involved in campus life (student senate, campus ministry, dorm politics, student activities, etc.) and not studying. The result was a 2.7 GPA.
(2) My graduate transcripts are unavailable due to (a) me still being a student and (b) having an account balance I cannot pay off at the moment.
(3) Due to a bad run-in with a professor last year, I have an F on my graduate transcript, but which was later retaken for an A- last semester.
How do I qualify my average performance in the classroom? Should I make specific mention of the F and its circumstances, or do I punt?
The reason I hesitate on this is because this school has a very interesting tradition - no one flunks out. You can stay until you get it right. I find the dual ideas of both personal responsibility and accountability fascinating in such a context, and I identify closely with such a policy.
Munch - I can relate - I had a similar GPA in undergrad (not really cut out for computer science, rebelling against school - whatever) and somehow managed to talk myself into a job at HP out of school (still unclear how I did that) and then to a top business school (hey, at least I had HP to point to at that point).
My thought: Find out who the decision-makers are over the position, pick one that you currently have or feel you could have a decent relationship with and talk with them. Get them out for a lunch. Tell them you are excited about the position and would appreciate any coaching they have. Tell them that you know they want your transcripts and ask what they are looking for on them. As appropriate, mention your concerns about your low-ish GPA but how you’ve gotten past it by gettting into a great grad school and how you have focus now (worked for me getting into b-school: “I got into HP and I have focus now” plus I kicked ass on my GMAT’s).
I find that direct conversation with decision-makers makes ALL the difference. Cut through the crap and make a personal connection. If you develop a rapport with them, they will smooth out any bumps.
There’s a decent chance all they need the transcripts for is for HR to verify you aren’t claiming to have any degrees you don’t really have. I wouldn’t sweat it. Most of the people who go to college are average students, after all.
I have worked in university fundraising and from my experience your involvement with campus activities is much more relevant to the job than good grades would be. Believe that wholeheartedly and go in with confidence is my advice! Sell what you’ve got!