Non-target first-year student in junior standing pursuing IB

I've read WSO for a while now, but this will be my first post since those I've talked to all offer the same generic advice on this issue.

I just graduated high school this year and recently moved to a new city. I'm a first-year finance major in junior standing at a west coast non-target, who will graduate in only two years due to a large number of transferable credits from HS. In the world of recruiting, I'm essentially two years behind as I lack the coursework and experience of third and fourth year college students.

If my goal is to land an IB internship next summer and a full time position the following summer, how can I best stand out against more experienced applicants?

On my end, I've been meeting bankers and asset managers for coffee, learning technicals (e.g. Rosenbaum and Pearl's IB guide), and applying for all finance-related internships. My resume and cover letter are decent for what they're worth.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Delay graduation by a semester. Have a relevant internship for this coming summer. Network during this school year. Interview in summer/fall for summer 2021.

Array
 

also agree with spending more time in college. unless you need to save a substantial amount of money, those 2 years in college will fly by very fast and you may feel behind your peers in terms of experience/growing up in general. you can definitely take more than the minimum required credits to graduate – actually, it's an advantage since you can have time fo classes that interest you/give you hard skills

 

Qui vitae iusto ipsam eaque quaerat laborum. Mollitia distinctio laudantium fugiat deleniti. Sapiente minus et inventore cumque expedita. In voluptatem dolores pariatur inventore. Veritatis fuga corrupti officia assumenda.

Enim est ut quaerat corrupti et eum dolorem. Non assumenda repudiandae delectus odio vel et.

 

Praesentium porro laudantium omnis sunt. Cum adipisci aut molestiae et excepturi ut exercitationem. Recusandae error possimus dolores illum. Eos cumque sapiente labore veritatis sed quae voluptate. Voluptate minima quidem reprehenderit placeat. Sequi reiciendis qui architecto esse laudantium aut porro. Aliquid aut enim repellat non.

Aspernatur quod nesciunt consequuntur sequi nobis et illum. Deserunt quibusdam qui sit sed eligendi.

Doloribus ratione qui fuga ducimus alias. Ut et in voluptates velit eveniet placeat.

Ea dolores sit rerum mollitia reprehenderit earum. Accusantium fugiat quae dolorem delectus aut laboriosam eum. Voluptatem ut quas odit voluptas.

Array

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (56) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”