Hey, I’m a non-target student currently interning at a boutique for my freshman summer, gaining live deal experience. By sophomore spring, my GPA will be around 3.64 but lets say 3.5. Which banks should I realistically focus on for networking? I plan to cast a wide net but want to know where my chances are best.
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Hey “Retired in IB M&A”
Your best bet is going to be targeting regional boutiques and other LMM banks. If you’re from and/or are going to a college in a particular city that has IB but isn’t a top tier IB city (think Boston, Denver, Atlanta, etc.) then network at those shops relentlessly. These banks are often used to candidates from target or semi-target schools using them as backups, leveraging offers, reneging, etc. So demonstrating interest in those firms early can help separate you.
Even if your dream is to end up at a BB/EB, the most important thing is to get your foot in the door in the industry. You can throw some applications at top shops if you have any alumni or a connection, but don’t let it distract you from being the top and most interested candidate at those LMM and regional boutiques.
Would it be hard to get any top 50 firm with a 3.5-3.6 while having good alumni connections and a solid resume
Hard to say exactly. Top 50 is a big range. Top EB’s in RX, I’d say yes it would be hard. Otherwise, it doesn’t hurt to fire off emails and give it a try. But again, don’t lose focus on going hard at the banks where you’re more of a median candidate.
Yeah definitely not losing hope. Would you say bulge brackets are still possible with 3.5-3.6
Not in major cities, could pull a regional office BB but still extremely unlikely (BBs vary wildly, DB is more of a conversation even though it is still highly unlikely while MS NY is close to impossible)
Any advice on which banks to target, my school and my current unpaid internship has a good amount of connections.
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