Interviewing for an Investment Banking degree after college

First let me start by saying I am a Junior at MSU with an accounting major. I am very ambitious and I work extremely hard in regards to my academics. The reasons for being an accounting major are that it was the hardest program to enter (required the highest gpa). I would like to receive a position in an investment banking type role when I graduate, but I'm not sure if this is possible coming from such a no-name school... I feel that I am a fairly polished interviewer with good social skills, and my grades should be above a 3.9 if all pans out.

-Would I get any interviews coming from a no name school? -Would an accounting major hurt my chances? -Would changing majors to finance help?

8 Comments
 

accounting is one of, if not the best, preparation for investment banking. MSU might hurt, but a 3.9 is great. You NEED to track down alumni to get you interviews if banks don't come on campus.

Can't comment on adding/switching to a finance major. I'd recommend adding it if you can handle the workload/if it won't lower your GPA or time for other commitments, friends, drinking, etc.

 
Best Response

Yeah, if you can handle it and stay at/above 3.75, double major in accounting & finance. Hit up LinkedIn and your alumni database, b/c there are MSU grads out there in investment banking (I work with one myself). Reach out as much as you can without being annoying, and you should be good to go.

Are you just entering junior year this fall? If so, you really need to get a relevant internship before your senior year.

 

I don't think your accounting major hurts you that much (if at all). Banks will hire other majors if they show some sort of ibanking/finance interest on the resume. With accounting, you might not even need to show that (although it wouldn't hurt).

And yes, network! You have a good GPA with a relevant major; you have a good shot at breaking in without changing your major.

 

Thanks for all the advice.

@ThaVanBurenBoyz-- I had thought about double majoring before, and I feel I could handle the workload. I forgot my internship; This summer I'm working at a hospital as an "i-Optimization intern" (Condensing patient files a.k.a data input on excel). This upcoming summer I plan on participating in a more finance oriented roll, though a Pfizer internship in NY, which is for children of Pfizer employees.

 

Obviously MSU is a non-target which is going to make things more complicated, but you should be okay if you can keep the GPA at a stellar level. Worst case scenario I'm guessing you could get a job in TAS at a big 4 firm and than transition to banking after 1-2 years. Accounting is a good major and a 3.9 in accounting is tough, presumably even at MSU.

 

Aut iusto porro labore vero rerum. Ut adipisci consequatur odio id qui. Ut reiciendis incidunt sed mollitia. Necessitatibus non beatae ut mollitia voluptates.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (77) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (71) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”