How to Get Away with Bad Grades

On-campus interview season can be a daunting period. Interviews heighten competition and insecurity that many students already experience. Taking a break from the murder coverups and sex scenes, HTGAWM devoted a good portion of last week's episode to the on-campus interview experience of law students. One recurring issue throughout the episode was grades. It appears that the Murder Crew's escapades caught up with them in the form of low GPAs and class rank.

Let's talk grades.

1. Take your grades seriously. Grades are very important. Grades are not a reflection of how smart you are, they are a reflection of how dedicated, disciplined and prepared you are. Many factors can affect grades, including poor health, family drama, relationship drama, ineffective studying and learning disabilities. Get to the source of your bad grades and start working through the issue as soon as you identify the problem.

2. Don't count yourself out because your numbers are low. Yes, grades are very important, but low grades should not stop you from applying to jobs or showing up to interviews. Even when you show up, you could still be counting yourself out mentally by exhibiting low confidence or embarrassment. A grade is not a measure of your value. You should be just as confident and willing to put yourself forward with straight A's or straight C's. The only difference is how you prepare to discuss your grades during the interview.

3. Narrate your academic experience. There is a difference between an excuse and a narrative. Excuses are an attempt to deflect responsibility. Narratives allow you to take responsibility while giving the listener information about your efforts to resolve the problem. A narrative has a beginning, middle and end. During an interview, use a narrative format to talk about your grades. Your beginning should be an explanation of your initial approach to classes and schoolwork. In the middle, discuss challenges you faced or set backs you experienced. The end should be an explanation of lessons learned and efforts to improve. An effective narrative does not to be long or detailed, but it does need a strong ending.

4. Secure great recommendations. When your grades are low, the other parts of your job application become crucial to securing a position. Strong recommendations can speak to your hard work and discipline where your grades may suggest otherwise. Focus on recommendations from previous employers and non-academic sources like volunteer organizations.

5. Provide a sample of your work product. Much like recommendations, samples of your work product can dispel negative perceptions about your abilities or work ethic. Keep samples short and clear. Have trusted professors or mentors review them before submitting them.

Bad grades can seem like the end of your career before it has even started, but they don't have to be.