Sophomore in college-too late to break into IB?

Hi guys, 

I'm currently a student at a non target school pursuing a degree in finance who just finished their third semester. I have a 3.5 (so not the best gpa possible) and am involved in quite a few finance clubs on my campus and was interested in pursuing a career in IB.

I'm staying realistic, especially since I don't have the most stellar gpa and I'm from a non target school. Is it too late to transition in? What can I do to improve my chances when applying for internships? 

5 Comments
 

Do you think cold emailing now would be a good idea? A lot of these internships for summer 2026 just opened up so I'm sure a lot of their inboxes are swamped, especially since I just now have decided to make the transition. 

 
Most Helpful

There is never a thing called "too late". Yes, the recruiting season for the '26 batch is heating up and junior analyst inboxes are getting BOMBARDED. Cold email is a good option and here's more you can do:

  • Target Alumni: Hit up your alumni network first. They're more likely to respond. Use your school email for extra brownie points.
  • Cold Email Strategically: Don't just spam anyone and everyone. Find people with similar backgrounds/career paths. Cold emailing is a numbers game, but make each message count.
  • Informational Interviews are Key: Don't just ask for referrals. Ask for advice, how they broke in, and who they recommend you talk to. This builds rapport and gets you warmer leads.
  • Set Aggressive Goals: Say 50 emails this week MINIMUM. More is better. The more you connect, the more intel you gather, and the better your chances.

No excuses until you give everything you got, best of luck

 

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