ER SA to IB FT (2027 Grad)?

Hi all,

I’m currently set to intern in ER for Summer 2026 at a well-regarded firm (think EVR ISI, JPM, BofA, or MS). While I’m excited for the opportunity, I’ve been reflecting more on long-term career goals, particularly breaking into VC, and I’m starting to feel that IB would offer a stronger foundation for that path (and also offer more room for different exit opps). I did explore IB for 2026 but unfortunately made the common mistake of not networking early or strongly enough, so I ended up accepting ER.

From my research, I understand that transitioning from ER to IB full-time isn’t common. It seems like most either:
a) stay in ER for a few years before b-school and pivot post-MBA, or
b) try to lateral into IB (unclear on how feasible it is without prior IB experience).

That said, I wanted to get some advice on the feasibility of making this switch, particularly as a 2027 grad:

• Is it possible to recruit for FT IB roles coming out of an ER SA (Summer 2026), even if I wasn’t in an IB SA seat?
• Would lateral recruiting during senior year be viable & if so how (networking, off-cycle internships, etc.)?
• How can I best position my ER experience (technical work, modeling, writing, etc.) to be attractive to IB groups? Are there certain coverage groups or boutiques that might value ER experience more (personal preference is tech M&A but beggars can't be choosers)

Additional context:

• Rising junior at a target/semi-target w/ 3.7 GPA (slightly low but go to a school known for being difficult + have a technical additional major) + diversity