so confused about 28 SA timeline

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Recruited for ‘27, honestly would start interview prep now, might as well start and not push it off since you will have to do it eventually. Networking doesn’t start until early October I would say, but that’s something you can feel out based on what everyone else is doing.

1. IMO, and most people at my school do this (State Target school), is wait until September. If you are at a school with few connections at the location you want, then start now because those people will get bombarded (if they haven't already) with emails from kids who go to the school they did, and they are more likely to only answer those kids. 
2. To me, reach out to personal connections first (family/friends/etc), then any smaller orgs/ones you're most involved in, then other larger orgs you are in, then your college/HS alumni. Focus on analysts, associates not as much, but if you have any tie (what I said above, then it's ok). VP/MDs should only be from connections and not just cold email. 
3. They will do on-campus networking/info sessions. Go to them, talk to the people afterwards, and connect/say something uniqueish that they remember. Then email them the next day about getting coffee (if still in town) or in general just connecting (I'd just try to connect "again", if they are in town and want to... then they will offer up getting coffee.
4. Follow up a couple of hours after calls/coffee chats. I normally did like 2 hours or so, but it depends on the time of the day (if it is late at night or something like that), do it the next morning (schedule send it). These follow-up "thank you" emails are how you get a referral to someone else and how you create a big chain. 
5. When apps open, and you submit, only email/text the closest person you have to each bank. Ie. Emailed a guy who was in my fraternity that I applied to; other places, I would just choose who I'm most connected with. These emails are more of just like a reminder. 
6. Referrals are kinds of both. Good calls could have a referral or not. They might not always give one, even if it's an amazing call. Otherself and I around me phrased it as like "if there is anyone else you recommend that I meet to further learn more abt xyz bank, that would be greatly appreciated" something along those lines. 

Other General Advice

• Schedule send emails (don't put it at a generic time, put it like 7:34 am.. 11:52 amm)-sounds stupid, but everyone older has said it just looks better and some people will notice like oh they schedule sent it.
• Weird thing, this happened only at a couple of places/heard of it from my buddies. People sometimes would get asked techs on calls (super rare and random). I never got asked, but might come up once. Also be prepared to answer the basic why IB? or why this location? or why this bank? ALSO always when they ask "how are you doing" dont just say good. Say good..... and give more. Then you'll do a TMAY somwhere near the beginning. I've had many calls where we just have a convo the whole time and don't talk about the bank or banking or anything like that once and I don't really have time to say my TMAY. depends on you and the other person tbh (some people suck talking to). 
• Realize that if people don't get back to you from a normal email, or thank you email, or just keep rescheduling your call (this happens so much), IT IS OK. Just be patient and as available as possible.
• Make a networking tracker... super helpful to track your calls/connections/emails sent out and everything
• Reach out to anyone you're close with at your school/friends about general advice, because y'all might be different recruiting specifically (girl/guy/target school or not/location/pre-programs/etc)
• Take a deep breath, IB networking sucks and is stressful, but it's ok
• If your school has a large IB/high finance program, try to join it...helpful for connections/learning/meeting other people twhoare the in the same boat as you
• You will also get a feel for Boutique vs Buldge from these calls and info sessions. (I really liked the exits of boutique and how they help you move on/connect you to other firms and less of being a number/leaner deal teams), A lot of my friends went and are at Buldge, so both ways are amazing. 

I just went through the process last year, and I only recruited for NYC.