Freshman Summer Experience

Hello everyone! I'm currently a freshman at a pretty good target school (Yale), and I am worried about my internship experience for this summer. I'm from a super rural area, so a lot of kids that I know go back to do stuff in their hometown PE/VC firms, but for me, that would be an accountant that structures LLCs for farms (not really the type of experience that I'm going for). I've sent cold emails to PE firms and investment banks in the closest city, all of which have turned up as dead ends. I will be interviewing for a research assistant position for the spring, so I was considering doing some sort of research assistant position in economics over the summer (something relating to markets, finance, etc.). I know investment banking recruiting starts super early (towards the middle of sophomore year for the junior year internship, from my understanding), so I wanted to know if this would be enough to get an offer from a bulge bracket or elite boutique and what else I can do to be more qualified. I'm also a diversity candidate (LGBT), and while it's not something I flaunt, I will take the diversity points where I can get them LOL. If anyone has any experience with diversity programs at such firms, I would greatly appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you guys so much for your help!

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