Freshman at Rutgers Newark — Best Way to Get an IB Internship?

Hi everyone,

I'm an incoming freshman at Rutgers University–Newark and I'm interested in pursuing investment banking. My long-term goal is to transfer to Rutgers Business School–New Brunswick after my first year and recruit for investment banking opportunities.

My background:

  • Incoming Rutgers Newark student (Finance/Economics)
  • Strong interest in investment banking and high finance
  • Currently networking with Rutgers alumni and professionals on LinkedIn
  • Planning to join finance-related organizations and student investment funds as soon as I get on campus
  • Working on improving my Excel, accounting, and valuation knowledge before school starts

I know freshman-year internships in investment banking are difficult to obtain, especially coming from a non-target/semi-target school. I've seen people mention boutique investment banks, search funds, private equity internships, wealth management, and small finance firms as potential options.

My questions are:

  1. What is realistically the best type of internship to pursue during freshman year if my goal is investment banking?
  2. Is cold-emailing boutique investment banks still one of the most effective methods?
  3. For those who came from Rutgers Newark or other non-target schools, what did you do during freshman year that helped you land sophomore and junior-year opportunities?
  4. How many firms would you recommend reaching out to?
  5. Are there any databases, websites, or resources that contain lists of small boutique investment banks and their contact information?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

10 Comments
 
Most Helpful
  1. If you want to do IB and maximize your chances, you want to do an IB internship. Then going down the list in finance-related. 
  2. Yes
  3. Find a mentor. Find a group of friends who are actively pursuing IB. Network.
  4. Until you literally cannot find any more which is quite literally impossible
  5. Linkedin. Find their email through rocketreach.

What you can do in the mean time is enjoy your summer. Go outside, visit the beach, talk to some girls.  You literally will not have a break for two years given that you place if you dont then you'll be recruiting for 3 years in a row without a summer. and follow what the guy above said. Just socialize lol.

In comparison, I don't know how competitive Rutgers IB clubs are but it seems like for UCLA in another thread that students are networking with the exec team in the summer to get in which is bonkers in my mind. But I mean if you don't want to chill out in the mean time then study technicals I guess and just continuously network in a normal way.

 

Went to Rutgers NB. Although few, but people have always placed even from Newark and I'm seeing an increase in this after the mega acceptance rate drop from NB which caused a chain reaction for Newark. Regardless, you are still right to transfer. I personally will take a Newark kids call but I know people who are too snooty to so just keep trying and don't give up.

I could be wrong but I think you can still join RTWS from Newark but I'm going to be honest they are very biased and it's not end all be all if you don't get in. Get involved with Raider Capital also to have something to start on your resume and interest.

 

Snooty but from Rutgers at all. The irony. Non-target Nancies got a big head with Rutgers to back it up

 

I don't know how things look now but when I was there around 3 years ago this was a very prevalent problem with the student body. Regardless though, I would still 100% recommend anyone in-state in NJ to attend. You will have great opportunities and a lot of exposure to a multitude of banks and it is relatively easy to place. You will have to work hard obviously but it isn't like trying to break in from TCNJ or Montclair State.

 

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