Rejected Everywhere for 2026 Summer
Hi all,
I’m a rising junior at a non-target with a GPA just above 3.5. The GPA isn’t where I’d like it to be — I got cooked in one course freshman year and it dragged things down, but I’ve been trending upward since. I'm also international and a diversity candidate. I’ve spent the past year doing everything I thought I was supposed to do — relevant internships, student org involvement, technical prep, and a lot of networking. Got a bunch of rejections this cycle — some formal, some just ghosted. I had one Superday at a BB and a couple first rounds, but nothing ended up working out. Now heading into junior year with no 2026 SA lined up. This summer I’m interning at a really small fund — not a big name, but I’m learning a lot and getting real hands-on experience.
I’ve done multiple internships in investment-related roles and networked heavily — cold emails, info chats, but none of it led to an offer. At this point, I’m open to absolutely any opportunity — banking, asset management, hedge fund, private equity, strategy, corporate finance, anything remotely relevant. I'm just trying to stay in the game.
My questions:
- What realistic opportunities still exist at this point (more programs opening in the fall, boutiques, etc.)?
- Is it still worth cold-emailing firms that haven’t explicitly posted anything?
- I'm an international student aiming to secure a full-time role in the U.S. If I end up interning in Hong Kong, is it possible to leverage that experience to land a full-time offer in the U.S. later on?
Would appreciate any insight and advice. Thanks so much.
Some lower MM and S&T roles are still hiring. As are consulting roles. Would advise at least checking what the consulting side offers before taking anything back office. If you're really deadset on finance, you can network for the few roles still ongoing i.e. BNP Paribas. If all else, fails, reclass to become a rising sophomore. Plenty of people do it at top schools.
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