International student at a Non-Target in Manhattan. Is it even worth it for me or should I just go back?

To give you guys some more information about myself, I'm currently a freshman from Eastern Europe, and I study at a Non Target business school in Manhattan (there's only like 2 of those, so you can probably guess). I spent the past 2 months interning at an asset management firm back home (I had to go back because of Covid). I made my own model to value the equity for downstream oil companies (and yes, I know what a crack-spread is, since that's the first thing anyone asks when you talk about downstream O&G). I learnt how to use CAPM, NAV, calculate inventory gains and losses, etc (Damodaran's valuation book really helped). If school continues to stay online, I'll start another internship, this time value a bank. I'll even try to get an internship at an investment bank, but I don't know if that'll do me any good because they don't really get many deals here.

This is all to say that I'm willing to work very hard. However, being at a non target already makes my chances incredibly slim, and being an international student on top of that should make them virtually non existent-at least that's what I gather, because companies have to be willing to sponsor you, which is a big deal. I'm really, really passionate about this investment banking, but I need to face reality. If I'm unable to transfer to a target (which I will definitely try), should I call it quits, and stop wasting my parents' money? If I do everything right, network my ass off (being in Manhattan should help), get the best grades, join the finance club, etc., do I, in your opinion, have a viable shot of getting into IB?  

2 Comments
 

Just keep grinding. If it doesn't work out, then go back home I guess, but there's no reason to go back until you've exhausted every option.

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