Feeling Lost - Experience but no GPA
Hi WSO,
Sorry for the throw-away account, it will become clear as to why...
I'm a prospective monkey, currently at a non-target. I've been struggling with some personal shit and my GPA has likely gone down the toilet. It was a 2.8/4.0 and has likely dipped as of these exams.
I applied to transfer to a target which has strong alumni + on-campus recruitment - however they take this current semester into consideration. As I currently stand, I only just scrape in with the entry requirements. In which case, fresh start at a good target rendering this thread moot...
However, this semester has been horrendous and I feel like I will just miss out on the opportunity to transfer to the target with a clean slate. The kicker is that I will only just miss out (where no exceptions are made)..
The reality of my lack of drive / personal shit bogging me down is finally dawning on me and I feel the bold aspirations of IB creeping away.
If I don't get accepted into the target, I am stuck at a sub-par institution with a shitty GPA. I have decent experience (regional boutique corp advisory shop) and a few due diligence engagements - but nothing BB / EB. I've accumulated enough debt and am starting to feel like I'm wasting my time.
With respects to debt and GPA, it seems too late to save. It sounds fucking moronic, but I've been so depressed and somewhat suicidal over this. Ever since leaving school I've wanted to work towards IB and it's just dawning on me that it may be too late. I don't know what else I would do (say if I were to drop out), nothing else interests me - nothing outside of 'making it' so to speak...
I've probably rambled heaps, any cold truths / differing perspectives would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Firstly, grow up. Whats this shit about feeling suicidal for not getting into IB.
I went to a non target engineering school, because I fucked up, in an Emerging Country in Asia. Then I went to a relatively shit job in IT for 9 months due to lack of guidance with no link whatsoever to finance.
Finally decided to give the GRE. Worked hard scored well and reched a target school in Europe for MSc. Thought life's all set but hell it ain't. Did not know the language and sent over 500 applications before I landed my first internship in BO. Now I'm studying as much as possible to shift from BO to FO and I know I will do it irrespective of the circumstances.
Instead of feeling depressed about the situation think and plan how to get out of the hole that you are in currently.
I'm very sorry to hear about your story. It really does sound quite unfortunate. Let me preface before saying anything by suggesting that it may be prudent to seek help from either a professional or confiding in friends/family. Dealing with bouts of depression are issues above the weight of this board in each case.
When it come to the next steps in your career, I wouldn't think you are hopeless by any means. Countless individuals on these boards have broken into IB with lower GPA's, worse experiences, and worth straits than where you are believe it or not (I remember reading about someone who was kicked out of school for a semester and had to do odd jobs just to survive and managed to turn things around. The individual landed a role at a top MM if my memory serves me right.)
It would be ideal if you are able to transfer of course, as it makes the barrier to entry substantially lower. However, it's not the end of the world if you fail to transfer and are stuck at the institution you are in. Whatever ends up being the case, your best bet is to move forward, as your GPA and performance right now are a sunk cost, which would be in the distant past with well thought out planning and a strong work ethic. Make it a mandate upon yourself from here on out that you will put full force and effort into your studies and not accept anything less. I can trust that you will achieve a greater degree of success in your academics, at least in the medium term.
the regional corp advisory shop is a good role. Maybe it makes sense to reach out to those folks and see if they have any colleagues that wouldn't mind chatting with you about their perspectives. Try to build relationships with others, whether through warm introductions or through cold emailing. You will be very surprised by how gracious folks can be in this industry with their time and perspectives if you approach them cordially and with the intention of not selling them anything or hosing them for a job.
Depression is one of the most insidious situations that anyone can be in, and it's certainly not prudent to go about things alone without support if indeed that is what you are going through. I do hope that things go well for you, and I believe things will look up for you in due course. One silver lining to these kinds of situation you can extract from this is building yourself up and getting to the other side. While it's dreary where you stand today, you will come out a very resilient and battle tested individual a few years down the line when you have that IB offer in hand. I wish you well :)