Experienced Low GPA/Non-Target Targeting EBs (Eventually)

I am currently a senior at a non-target with a 3.1 cumulative, 3.6 Major GPA. I have plenty of reasons for the low GPAs but you have heard them all before I am sure. I have some decent internships in banking, VC, HF, PWM but nothing that anyone out of Colorado would recognize most likely. My current internship is looking to sponsor my series exams and I am a part of several finance clubs and student government. I have done the volunteering and all the self study programs that every other non-target/low GPA schmuck has done.

I want to be at an EB, specifically HL, but know it is going to take some serious grind to get there. I want to be east coast in LevFin or RX but know that I will probably have to take a circuitous route so I am open to anything. Unfortunately, the GS Salt Lake IB axing ruined any hopes for BB and I am struggling to get even a denial email from EBs.

I am thinking that I should push hard for a MM/LMM regional bank in NYC then make a lateral move down the line but it seems like most of them post "easy applications" on LinkedIn which get 2000+ apps where my resume will likely get tossed due to GPA.

Does anyone have advice on best practices for getting in contact with some of the good NY regionals? I don't have any school connections so I am thinking of going for the cold calls to VPs and up. Has this worked for anyone? Can someone point me to a ranked list of regionals in NY? I have seen the regional bank posts on here and have gone through Vault Guides/Axial and even some PitchBook data.

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because the last thing that a banker wants to deal with is some random college student call them to network. they're pretty busy and have erratic schedules. I was just an intern this summer and if I got a random call when I was working on something, I'd stay on the phone long enough to get your name and then hang up. Then I'd message all of my friends about how funny it was that you cold called and we could all have a short laugh at your expense.

If you have the smarts to track down someone's work phone number, you should have the smarts to find their email address.

If they don't respond to your email, what makes you think they want an unprompted call?

 

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