Non-target, 3.3 GPA with solid EC, what are the chances?

I attend a non-target University (although it is top 40 on US News & world report since I can remember)on east coast. My cum GPA is a 3.3. I have solid extracurriculars (President and/or founder of a few different clubs). What are my chances of getting into IBD for full time? chances at BB? respectable MM? boutique?

I have 1 previous internship at very small IB boutqiue, but it was an un-structured experience with a lot of paper-pushing.

Besides networking with alums like crazy, what else is there to do? Will I be laughed at by recruiters/interviewers with 3.3 from non-target?

5 Comments
 

The GPA is a hurdle, but 3.3 is actually ok. However, it sounds to me like you are a senior. If you aren't, ignore all of this:

The good middle-market firms are DONE hiring. Find a boutique that hasn't finished yet - one in NYC would be best.

To answer your question about alumni, it's always good to network with alumni, and those people could even help you 1 or 2 years after college, but it probably won't get you your first job at this point. I say this because your chances of finding a boutique that has not started hiring, even though it's late November, AND that has an alum from your non-target college working there are slim.

I know of an NYC boutique that doesn't start until February, so PM me if you want their name.

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Best Response

From what I saw of the recruiting season this year, BBs were giving out fewer offers than in previous years and even people at target schools were having worse luck than usual.

I would recommend looking at MMs and boutiques - in a lot of cases these places haven't actually met their recruiting goals for next year and it's usually tougher for them to find people, which increases your chances of getting in.

In one case I know of last year, someone from an EXTREMELY non-target school (as in this bank never ever recruited there) was actually recruited via a resume he posted on the Vault board. I've also had friends who have cold called their way into at least getting interviews with some boutiques.

You definitely have to be a lot more proactive... unless you know someone at a BB I'd say chances are slim (even if you have a connection chances aren't great) so just focus on MMs and boutiques.

In addition to networking with alumni, you should reach out to headhunters... I think this site has a list in the links section. That, and getting your resume out there as much as possible... the process can be VERY random so more exposure is always better.

I would also focus on having a good story around your GPA so that if someone asks why it's low or something to that effect you can have a response ready. "I got off to a bad start freshman year, but improved greatly by the end" etc. (obviously expand on that) or something along those lines works well.

Hope this helps.

 

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