How to explain C in the transcript? (degree, professors, harder)

[tlfrank]

I just got an interview from a company and the manager asked me to explain why I got 'C' in one of my courses. How can I explain it well so others don't consider that I am finding myself an excuse? Thank you for your advice. By the way, I am a grad student in Electrical Engineering.

[Bhaalspawn]

You need to turn it into some sort of a positive or explain how getting a C became a learning experience for you. You could also lie and say that you were seriously ill that semester but that seems like a weak response. "I was overconfident and did not prepare as hard as I should have for that class and learned a good lesson. I worked harder after that and earned all A's and B's afterward."

Is a C in an engineering class really so horrible, anyway?

[mezman]

Originally Posted by tlfrank

I just got an interview from a company and the manager asked me to explain why I got 'C' in one of my courses. How can I explain it well so others don't consider that I am finding myself an excuse? Thank you for your advice. By the way, I am a grad student in Electrical Engineering.

You had to submit a transcript to be interviewed? Interesting. At any rate say "engineering is hard" and leave it at that. Just kidding of course. But I wonder if this is one of those questions intended to see if you freak out and start making up excuses. If it is that type of question in general you just need to be honest.

At any rate good luck.

[Kemba]

I'm surprised that an interviewer would make such a big deal about a C. On that note, companies and other places of work are becoming more interested in how well you did in college, not just whether you had the degree, as they were in the past.

[bentstrider]

Wow, an employer fuming over what sounds like a single "C" grade.

With all that math involved in engineering, a "C" is the least I would want to walk away with after all the migraine-inducing study involved.

[tlfrank]

That depends on the professors. Some professors are very strict with grading. Sometimes almost 1/4 of the class get C

[tlfrank]

The interviewer asked me to submitted my transcript before interviewing. It seems they care about the grade very much

[golfgal]

It could be a question to see how you dealt with adverse situations or extremely difficult projects and really nothing to do with the grade itself. I would explain it honestly-whatever that is-the course was extremely difficult, I learned more in that course than any other I took and I was very happy to achieve a C when many of my classmates failed--or whatever really happened.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by Bhaalspawn

Is a C in an engineering class really so horrible, anyway?

I suppose if you are the interviewer why settle for people with C's when half a dozen or more of the other interviewee's have A's

[Jaggy001]

Why did you get a "C"? I always find telling the truth to be preferable to trying to "spin" it.