Airlines and your GPA

navymmw

navymmw

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone,

Currently I'm a freshmen at UMASS Lowell, recently I got to thinking, how important is your GPA to the airlines? Recently I've been worried that if I don't have a good GPA I will have trouble finding a job with airlines, now my GPA isn't horrible, its around a 3.0, i'm working on raising it right now. Anyway I guess what i'm asking is how much do airlines weigh your GPA when interviewing?
 
navymmw said:
Hello everyone,

Currently I'm a freshmen at UMASS Lowell, recently I got to thinking, how important is your GPA to the airlines? Recently I've been worried that if I don't have a good GPA I will have trouble finding a job with airlines, now my GPA isn't horrible, its around a 3.0, i'm working on raising it right now. Anyway I guess what i'm asking is how much do airlines weigh your GPA when interviewing?
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I graduated college with a 2.9. Not a single airline has asked or cared. Hasn't held me back at all.
 
I was under the impression that it didn't matter, as dasleben said, but apparently if you go to one of the colleges with a "direct hire" program, it does now. I've got a 3.6 right now, but it'll probably drop a little bit after this semester... What can I say? It's my last one... :rolleyes:
 
Fortunately it never came up except for military flying. Even there I was lucky and assessed during the tail end of the Regan era when the requirement for flight training seemed to be a warm pulse. My wife went to flight school 5 years later and her class was 1/2 the size of mine.
 
If you do anything to build actual experience before trying to go to an airline, your GPA won't matter at all. If the only thing on your resume (besides a wet ink commercial) is the school you went to, then yes, GPA probably matters, but only that you are above a certain threshold.
 
Blackhawk said:
Fortunately it never came up except for military flying. Even there I was lucky and assessed during the tail end of the Regan era when the requirement for flight training seemed to be a warm pulse. My wife went to flight school 5 years later and her class was 1/2 the size of mine.
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Yup. I had a 2.4 college GPA and ended up flying the Stealth fighter. Im in no way saying that someone should slack off, but people should realize that just because they don't have a 3.85 GPA, it isn't the end of the world either.
 
MikeD said:
Yup. I had a 2.4 college GPA and ended up flying the Stealth fighter. Im in no way saying that someone should slack off, but people should realize that just because they don't have a 3.85 GPA, it isn't the end of the world either.
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Yeah, but you had your fighter pilot looks that probably made up for the GPA.
 
MikeD said:
Yup. I had a 2.4 college GPA and ended up flying the Stealth fighter. Im in no way saying that someone should slack off, but people should realize that just because they don't have a 3.85 GPA, it isn't the end of the world either.
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Yep, I know that everyone made a big deal about grades and future prospects when I was in college. How <3.0 GPA would mean you'd be flying 206s in the big ditch for years to come, etc. Honestly, the only thing that's held me back is my eyesight, and that just meant I couldn't qualify as a military pilot. Good thing they let me fly troops around in big jets instead. Whew. :)
 
Your GPA really matters very little in the grand scheme of things. Especially the farther you get from you college years, and your work experience will speak to your qualifications. If they ask for transcripts, what they are really looking for is to confirm you graduated. Your GPA would most likely be used for an entry level jobs when applicants don't have much work experience. Other than that not a big deal, I would still strive to have a good GPA as it could help you especially if you wish to do a masters degree.
 
I was asked about mine when they saw I had a 4-yr degree and was only in school for 3 years. I guess it was a curiousity/fact check of the resume. Just have the 4-year degree.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies!

I'm relieved to hear that GPA isn't incredible important, now i'm not going to slack off, i'm going to try and improve this, I have three and half years so thats good. Plus a good GPA will provide me with opportunities for study abroad as well as internship opportunities to go towards my business degree, just in case flying doesn't work out.
 
If you ever want to get a MBA dont slack off. I am doing mine and they wanted at least a 3.5 GPA to be considered. So it will effect your ability to get into graduate school if you ever wish to.
 
All the airline interviews I have been to have asked for transcripts. (I have had three interviews.) Only one ever even talked about school in any detail and GPA did not seem to be a huge factor. (I graduated with about a 2.9) Unless it is really low, I doubt GPA is a huge consideration during an airline interview. Personally I think a really high GPA might score some extra points for a candidate but not nearly as much as having competitive flight times/experience. Meaning a guy with a 4.0 GPA with a 1000 hours is not going to be as impressive as a guy with 2000 hours and a 2.7 GPA.
I would echo what others have said and NOT slack off on those grades if you can help it.
 
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