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.

 

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