Pre-College Summer

As summer fast approaches I wonder how best to spend it to build a solid resume. I've heard that the earlier you start, the better. Should I cold email finance professionals in my area and try to get some real hands-on experience even if it's just a summer internship? I took the Wall Street Prep Intro to Excel course, so maybe I wouldn't be totally useless. My school has a well-established network in my area too, so maybe those alumni might be the first people I reach out to. 

Or alternatively, I could just get a regular job this summer and not stress on finance as much. Enjoy my summer with little responsibility before I lock in at college. I'm aware there's an army of kids like me looking to break into IB, so wouldn't it be in my best interest to get as much experience as I can as soon as I can? Any thoughts or advice on how I should spend my pre-college summer?

5 Comments
 

I was a hardo like you who landed an EB role. Just do something outside of finance that makes you more interesting and begin reading Rosenbaum & Pearl. If you start at a non-target/semi-target, try to get ready for transfer app to target schools, which then having a normal job is better for admissions. 

 

An ideal role would be trying to see if you could be a financial planning or financial policy intern for your local congressman/woman. Sometimes they take a bunch of interns (not necessarily in finance) because things are unstructured, so I would start by sending letters and emails to people at his or her office expressing interest.

 

Ut inventore cumque voluptas et quo suscipit nulla. Sit ut ratione omnis voluptatem minus. Dolores quia dicta est voluptatem tenetur aut ullam. Recusandae non quibusdam molestiae necessitatibus quo repudiandae tenetur.

Optio quaerat iusto unde qui id. Odit et consequatur quia alias id. Ad recusandae dolor quae dolor et optio ut. Ipsum molestias recusandae reprehenderit et dolorem error sed.

Optio aut quis quia quia labore cum dolores. Et vel et aut doloribus consequatur voluptatum eligendi quidem. Nam amet aspernatur provident quae. Consequatur omnis dolores aut minus quo dolor deserunt molestiae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”