Canada: breaking into mm M&A advisory best path

Think Origin, Osprey, Fort Capital etc

I go to a semi-target school for undergrad - junior year. Trying to figure out options for internship. Want to break into mm M&A advisory or LMM PE eventually. Have private credit and capital markets experience and good technicals. Also very strong behaviourals (strongest attribute). 2.9 Gpa at a semi-target (think Laurier, Western non-ivey etc) due to health problems. 

Trying to decide if I should aim for corporate m and a and try to lateral, or something else. I have tried for some unpaid internships at m&a shops but no response. If anyone`s shop is taking unpaid interns with strong technical skills in Toronto or potentially Montreal (or of course NYC) please let me know. M&A or RX ideally but would be open to private credit or capital markets as well. 

5 Comments
 

GPA is gonna hurt you tbh. Gonna need to lateral after getting work experience. Most defined path is probably Big4 transaction advisory

 

Had a 2.9 as well but I went to a target (life egregious health issues that pushed me out of school for a year, horrible times) . A MM took pity on me and broke in from there. Your gpa ain’t gonna kill you OP, you can do this, but the limited opportunities will. I broke in 2021-22 when the market was a lot better.

Thank you for sharing your experience. 

 

Vel similique nulla ipsam. Ex facilis labore nam delectus beatae officia vel ipsam. Quia alias doloremque laudantium omnis eius dolorem neque.

Pariatur consequatur ipsa aut tenetur est amet. Dolores ipsum ipsum vel ipsam et vero rerum et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”