4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, it's not uncommon for freshmen to take the summer to focus on self-improvement and skill-building, rather than jumping straight into another internship. Given your background with a search fund internship and an upcoming M&A consulting internship, you've already got some solid experience under your belt. Here's a breakdown of how you might approach your summer:

  1. Studying Technicals: Three months is a substantial amount of time to dedicate to learning technical skills. You can certainly reach an intermediate level if you study consistently. The BIWS (Breaking Into Wall Street) lessons and 400 questions are highly regarded in the WSO community for learning technicals. They cover a wide range of topics, from financial modeling to valuation, and are designed to be practical and hands-on.

  2. Supplement Your Learning: While BIWS is a great resource, you might also want to consider:

    • WSO's own Financial Modeling Courses for additional practice.
    • Reading investment banking books like "Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers & Acquisitions" by Joshua Rosenbaum and Joshua Pearl.
    • Practicing with Excel to ensure your VBA and spreadsheet skills are sharp.
  3. Networking: Don't forget to network. Even if you're not in a formal internship, staying connected with professionals in the industry can be invaluable. Use this time to reach out to alumni from your school, attend virtual networking events, or even informational interviews.

  4. Balance: It's important to balance your summer between studying and relaxation. Burnout is real, and you want to ensure you're refreshed for the upcoming academic year.

  5. Other Skills: Consider learning other skills that may be beneficial in the long run, such as a new language, programming, or even public speaking.

  6. Stay Active: Physical activity is a great way to keep your energy levels up and maintain a healthy lifestyle, which is important for the demanding schedules in finance.

  7. Read Widely: Literature, current events, finance news - keep your mind engaged with a variety of topics.

Remember, while technical skills are important, so are soft skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership. Use your summer to become a well-rounded candidate. And as always, enjoy your summer and make sure to have some fun!

Sources: What should I do the summer after freshman year?, Freshmen: What to do during your freshman year summer, Junior Year Summer - Will Tech Internship Hurt Me?, 5 Steps To Becoming A Rockstar Freshman (Undergrad Advice), Stay for recruiting or study abroad in junior spring?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Voluptatum commodi recusandae quia quibusdam voluptate enim. Est et et quos rerum. Natus quia officia quia hic. Rerum fugit doloribus harum ut et laboriosam voluptatem. Dolore magnam sit maxime quae. In possimus quos voluptatem est.

Sapiente nobis a eos repellendus aperiam nostrum. Dolores inventore qui iste iste facilis ex dolorum. Officiis est eligendi mollitia repellat non voluptatem id. Omnis qui est culpa sed.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 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

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”