IB Sophomore Programs
Hey All, I apologize if this is in the wrong place, but this is my first post (though I have been lurking for a while). I have a quick question about the feasibility of getting a place in one of the great Sophomore Programs. I come from a non-target school, and am working towards a mathematics major with a minor in chemistry and premed (I wanted to be a doctor for a while). But here is the kicker. My GPA is only 3.43 due to me overloading myself last semester. A redeeming factor is that I am a member of a rather prestigious "investment club," if you will, on campus that has alumni in several banks and PE firms. In doing research I have seen that most banks have a GPA cutoff for Sophomore Programs at 3.5. I know there is debate about whether I could round my GPA to 3.5, but let's say I don't. Will most banks immediately throw out my resume because of this? I don't doubt that it would make getting an interview more difficult, but will most banks even bother to read my resume? Thank you very much for your time and responses.
Being a member of an investment club doesn't add too many points to your resume, not enough to cover your GPA anyway given the fact that you are from a non-target. Why don't you take this opportunity instead and network with your PE alumnus/bankers because you will definitely need another way "in" to the interviews. If you can get just one good alumni high in the food chain to go to the bat for you, you might be in for a first round interview without getting it thrown away by HR
Yeah same above. The sophomore programs are generally for Ivy kids from the people I've met. I know one JPM guy who did two continuous summers sophomore summer and junior summer and now a FT. MS ECM summer analyst both sophomore and junior year. GS S&T freshmen and sophomore year. they were all from Ivy, Stanford or MIT.....
Even if you had a 3.6, networking is your only shot since banks only recruit at their Target schools. Contact alumni who were in the same position as you. Once you get the interview, it's up to you to kill it (by talking about the work you've done in the fund, among other things).
I am going to be blunt with you; you have no chance. I have an older friend at a US target (Wharton/Harvard, etc) who got JPM sophomore, GS junior, then top PE shop for FT. Guess what? He ended up graduating first in his class. Network with alumni for a PE internship for sophomore summer, it will look great.
Thank you for the responses, I will try to network my way in. I've actually been informed though, that my school is a target school for some banks (like Citi and a few others), and at least referral for most banks (GS, MS, JPM, and a few others). I don't go to an Ivy or anything, but banks are at least aware of my school. Will the GPA still have them immediately throw away my resume? Thanks in advance.
Sophomore Summer options to get into IB? (Originally Posted: 06/14/2017)
So I'm a rising Sophomore at a southern non-target with a 3.64 GPA. I have began networking with alumni from JPM and GS and am working on others. I currently hold an internship at a local M&A firm working on sell side deals. BB in NYC is clearly pretty out of reach but I was wondering what my best route could be. Should I just focus on sophomore specific programs? Or are there banks in Charlotte/Boston/Houston (EBs, MM, or even BB) that I have a shot at?
Anyone? With recruiting near, I want to begin mapping out where I'm looking.
One thing to understand:
1) Why are NYC BB's clearly pretty out of reach (you're only a rising sophomore)? - If you get a 4.0 this semester you can hit a 3.7+ before recruiting
That being said, most sophomore programs at BBs and EBs are for diversity candidates so unless you are a URM or an incredibly talented student at a target, those are kind of out of reach. I would focus more on regional banks and firms for the fall and spring and try to get a bigger network throughout the year.
I saw NYC BB is fairly out of reach for next summer because I'm not a URM and I'm at a non-target. Do you think places such as Lazard MM are in reach? Or should I focus more on small firm I'm working for now.
Continue to improve your GPA, and I think you'd be pretty competitive for some MM banks and some boutiques.
If that doesn't work out, look at corpfin, ER, or some other relevant internship.
At a last resort, you could probably get a MO or BO position at a BB.
Check out SunTrust Robinson Humphrey
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BB Sophomore IBD (Originally Posted: 03/12/2010)
What are the work experiences of those of you who were accepted into BB IBD for sophomores?
I know a kid who worked in BB ops b4 getting the internship. That might be an outlier.
I would guess most Sophomores geting BB SA came through some kind of diversity program ala GS Spring Break or Barclay's Wall Street Scholars (just to name a few, i think every bank has something similar).
GS Spring Break? you've got to be kidding me. Any college sophomore that isn't wasted in some shit hole in FL or Mexico during spring break needs to check their priorities. Stay ambitious & work hard in school but please you guys, get a fucking life.
Usually either you're graduating in 3 yrs or it's a relationship hire.
I've heard that you're given the same type of work a regular summer analyst gets. Not too much of a difference.
And yes, most sophomores hired into BB IBD are for diversity reasons. It's not that you're necessarily a relationship hire / graduating in 3 years, though that may be the case for some.
while this is true, it shouldn't discourage non-URM candidates from applying (even to the diversity programs). the programs are meant to attract diverse candidates, but they're not discriminatory. in fact, i know a few white kids -without connections- who landed summer gigs at BBs through these diversity initiatives.
Were these white kids female though? That counts for diversity as well.
i am a non urm (not female), no connections, not an athlete, with a BB sophomore offer. it's possible.
^ Congrats! I saw only diverse candidates at my superday / was told only diverse candidates were being interviewed. Guess it depends on the BB.
^ might I ask how you managed to get the interview in the first place? Practically all the BB positions outside of PWM clearly states that they want juniors/ 2011 and I'm pretty sure HR threw out my resume just by ctrl+f the graduation date without even bothering to look at it
MS IBD Sophomore Rotational Program (Originally Posted: 02/18/2009)
Has anyone heard back from Morgan yet about this program? I phone interviewed a few weeks ago and haven't heard back.
superday was yesterday
just out of curiosity, have you heard back yet?
Morgan Stanley: IBD Sophomore Program (Originally Posted: 12/30/2013)
Anyone hear back from MS regarding interviews for IBD Sophomore Program?
Resumes drops aren't even due yet
Anyone hear back from IBD?
Anyone that applied for 2016 Soph. IBD hear back about superday? I had a phone interview 3 weeks ago.
Sophomore IBD position in NYC, does the bank matter much? (Originally Posted: 01/16/2015)
Seeking out advice. I have been fortunate enough to be offered a SA IBD role at two different BB banks so far in NYC for my sophomore summer. I realize just how lucky I am to be in a position to have this experience so early on.
I only have until the end of January to make my decision. I also have interviews with two other banks lined up, one regarded as a top BB. The interviews for these are past the commitment deadline for my current offers, and are not flexible to move the superday.
I would guess that having BB IBD experience as a sophomore would be so advantageous for junior year internships that it probably doesn't matter at which BB it is at. I could possibly get my current offers to extend the timeline, but I'm not sure if it is worth running the risk of asking a question like that.
Is there really any point nitpicking at this level for which BB it is at? I feel like the difference between the reputation of banks would almost be immaterial, and any of them would give me the same experience and leg up.
I would love to hear opinions for and against, I am quite open to suggestions. My gut tells me to stick with what I have, but I find a great deal of value in difference of opinions.
First off, congratulations on landing two offers at BB firms during your soph year. That is quite an accomplishment.
It doesn't really matter if you intern at CS/BAML vs. JPM/MS/GS this early on. The name recognition will open doors for internships the following year regardless.
I would decide which on the two you prefer and accept the offer. You could always sit for the interviews with the other bank for the experience if you're dying to know whether you would make the cut.
Again, good job and best of luck to you this summer. A good number of kids in college would kill to be in your spot. The future is bright.
Congratulations, at this point you should take the offer at the firm you feel most comfortable at.
How does someone even get a BB IBD internship as a sophomore...? Not saying you're lying, I'm just actually curious.
URM, wealthy and connected parents, merit, ect.
I would just take the best offer you've been given already and not look back. You are pretty much set for junior recruiting regardless of which BB you work at this summer, so better not risk it for a better BB.
I've met (I believe) non-URM, non-target sophomores (who presumably weren't connected) who were really on top of their games and who did SA IB at GS, for example. It definitely happens.
OP - bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and the bird you have is an eagle. Congrats on the offer - pick the bank you prefer working at and take the offer. Politely decline the interviews with the top banks, but ask if you can be put in touch with/reach out to people at those banks because you'd like to continue the dialogue/learn about junior year SA opportunities.
Thank you all for your comments, I appreciate the advice. With regards to how I go these internship opportunities, I think it was probably mostly luck to be honest. There are a million qualified kids out there, maybe things just panned out a bit better for me. I have noticed that there is a certain momentum that gets going, so it seems like the offers almost build off themselves when places start hearing that you have already secured offers somewhere else.
To give a very simple explanation, I applied to a variety of merit and diversity programs, and made sure that I had solid employee referrals to HR at each place that I applied to. I made sure these referrals were solid because I developed good relations with the people I was reaching out to, to the point that they were sending me email updates letting me know that they were hounding on HR to make sure I got interviews. Because of that I was lucky enough to receive interview offers at every place I applied, and from there I think I was certainly lucky enough to connect well with my interviewers and show them I was really interested in the business.
I keep on saying lucky because I know how much luck really was involved. The MD I interviewed with at one of the banks called me to congratulate me and extend the offer, and told me that I was one of 6 offers in 1340 applicants, or a 0.004 percent acceptance rate. Anyone who thinks that they were so good that they got an offer in statistics like that would be absolutely delusional. I worked hard, but I got lucky plain and simple.
Sophomore IB (Originally Posted: 01/26/2015)
Hey guys,
I am a sophomore who is trying to find an IB internship for the summer. Obviously all BB's are out of the question, does anyone know of any less prestigious banks that are still taking applications/more willing to take sophomores.
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Rising sophomore IB chances (Originally Posted: 05/19/2015)
3.75/4.0 GPA Rising sophomore finance major at Pitt (non-target) Very involved at School
What are my chances? Where should I start?
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