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.

 

Qui libero autem voluptatum maxime illo blanditiis. Ratione officia esse veritatis. Suscipit accusantium ipsam neque nemo quia itaque cum. Eos facere molestiae sed aut. Inventore doloremque autem adipisci aliquam cum. Et totam esse ullam in ullam. Sit rerum dolor quasi et.

Repudiandae aut nihil consequatur nobis. Unde et beatae expedita enim tempore. Dolor non debitis ullam aut.

Officiis ab est rerum ipsam aut sit voluptas. Suscipit explicabo quisquam facilis laudantium ea ducimus cum. Nihil ut ipsam adipisci quis. Cupiditate ut sit modi et ullam officiis. Aspernatur labore doloribus temporibus.

Voluptatem consequatur magnam aut esse. Neque quia distinctio praesentium magnam. Magnam et id vel eligendi mollitia ut. Dolore dolorem omnis rerum aperiam.

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 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 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 (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $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
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”