I have seen a lot of posts about cold calling/emailing when your background isn't necessarily target and I thought I'd put in my two cents. To people trying to break in: use LinkedIn email religiously.
Let me preface this by stating I was a 3.0 student at a very non-target state school.
Many people fear of MDs or higher ups not responding. Remember this: if you are able to share a very convincing story on how Investment Banking interests you, the chances of a response are very high. I emailed only 4 MDs, got responses back from 2, and ultimately landed with an offer from 1. Here are some emailing tips that I used that worked for me:
Make it seem as if you are seeking advisement on the banking industry in general, as opposed to screaming "I want to be an investment banker." Others can attest to this, but senior bankers LOVE talking about themselves and how they have become so successful.
Ask to potentially chat about current events in the industry. Seem interested and excited to have the perspective from someone within. Act eager for the next opportunity to chat.
As corny as it sounds, be your fucking self. MDs can read fakes from a mile away. Write a sincere email expressing your interests.
Perhaps the most important, be willing to learn and accept the fact you don't know jack shit. People who pretend to know everything are huge turn offs to these people. If you don't know something, say you don't know.
I know it sometimes seems impossible to land a spot, but if you put solid effort into networking, something will happen. Don't believe some of these morons on here that make fun of people's backgrounds for thinking they have a chance. With hard work, I can assure you that people will take a chance on you.
If anyone has any further questions, feel free to PM me. Good luck to all.
What is LinkedIn?