[Coda]

Well, that actually supports what happened: An unimpressive GPA is a good reason for recruiters to pay more attention to the non-GPA things. The ones who are going to be impressed are the ones who care about more than just grades.

The recruiters that look at more than grades are also better recruiters. The details of one's academic history stop mattering once you have even one year of relevant on-the-job experience. So good recruiters for companies that care about retaining good talent instead of filling seats will look for reasons that you stand out beyond just a number.