3.2 GPA, Non-Target – Still Dreaming of IB. What’s My Next Move?
Some Context:
- Sophomore with an expected graduation date in December 2026 (U.S. based).
- Solid finance experience: Three internships so far—one in sales, one in private wealth management (PWM), and one in corporate finance.
- Upcoming internships:
- Winter 2025: Big 4 Audit
- Summer 2025: FAANG Finance Rotational Program
- On-campus involvement: Leadership roles in Greek life and completed two investment banking case competitions.
The challenge? My GPA is 3.2, which I know is low for a non-target applicant aiming to break into investment banking (IB). Despite that, I’m 100% committed to pursuing IB after graduation. I believe it’s the best place to develop as a professional who’s obsessed with finance and eager for exit opportunities down the road.
Everyone tells me it’s impossible, but I refuse to give up.
Given the setbacks, what would you do to break into IB? Any advice on navigating this journey would be greatly appreciated.
Pretty tough GPA even for DEIs. I'd say MSF is the only way.... There is no room for low gpa non-target nowadays, unfortunately. Your experience is pretty average given the competitiveness of the candidates that we see. Also, if your desired exit opps are larg-cap PE or HF, you need better GPA from top banking groups.
Is 3.65 too low for non target?
3.65 would be too low for a candidate from Wharton unless they were DEI/Student athlete/Dad is partner at BX
Stick with the FAANG internship and get an MBA later. You have solid experience, but a 3.2 from a non target with no IB internship means you're kinda finished. Focus on what you do have. FAANG is a pretty sweet gig, and can give you an interesting way to get in through MBA or FTR by saying "Hey, I worked in big tech, I'll be a great candidate for Tech banking/TMT".
Agree with this path. Do tech out of school, learn the living shit out of the industry, do your MBA and break into tech IB. You’ll do even better then than now.
Will do. Thanks for the advice!
This dude has posted multiple times including his resume, and everyone has given him the same advice over an over.
But dude has been very arrogant with "targeting only BB/EBs" at first with a 3.3 GPA and called himself ambitious not caring about negativity when people told him to look at LMM boutiques, lol.
Posted my resume multiple times to get better, and I did substantially. Don’t see the point of your negativity. I did not frown upon any advice I was given, I implemented it and took the criticism. Love how you’re following my journey so closely tho!
Bro went from "targeting BB/EB doesn't matter what other say, I'm ambitious" to "break into IB however".
WSO slapping some realism into people, love it.
Still targeting BBs and EBs. Goal has not changed, only the journey to get there. So you’re wrong.
There is no fucking way for 3.2 at University of Alaska to get into BB/EB bro, especially with your attitude. Why would banks hire you over plenty of 4.0s from Wharton/Harvard? Even bankers from non-target will not help you out because of your GPA. I went to a non-target and would never vouch for someone with below 3.7 GPA and my coworkers feel the same way.
Get your GPA up to 3.5 in the next two years and try to land a boutique investment banking job out of undergrad. As someone mentioned, you want to aim for top MBA programs (study hard for GMAT) and recruit from there.
Stop dreaming lol
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