Summer Analyst Drug Test

Can someone please describe the drug screening process of incoming summer analysts? There have been previous posts, however, I figured they are outdated as summer recruiting is always getting pushed up. Answers have been all over the place. I've heard December, 1 month before start, or anytime before you start...

Appreciate all advice about cleansing methods, playing it safe, when to stop etc... but **my question is about the drug screening process and timeline**. I'm more concerned with BB NY IBD SA testing but would also be useful to know about FT, different cities, divisions, etc.

1. How drug screening timelines differ within bulge brackets?
2. How timelines differ within divisions of finance (IBD, S&T, HR)?
3. Does a positive drug test for marijuana result in a rescinded summer anlayst offer, even if legal in state of residence? (Yes, I understand it's a federal crime).

Feel free to answer any or all questions, would be greatly appreciated.

JC

29 Comments
 
  1. Every bank does it slightly differently ... most either do roughly 1 month before start or right after accepting offer
  2. Same timeline for all divisions ... how would it make sense for a bank to process drug tests at different times for different divisions.
  3. If they didn't care if your test was positive or negative, why would they even test you? If you really did get a BB IBD SA offer, I would hope you are smart enough to have already known the answer before asking this question... literally just dont smoke week for 2 months. Shouldn't be too difficult right?
 

Ever seen the show Atlanta (decent show about childish gambino)? Teacher gets drug tested. She prematurely assumes she fails and says sorry to the principal who says that they don't actually check the results. She gets canned anyway since she admitted.. NOT saying this is even remotely possible but just a scenario haha.

JC, john cena, jesus christ, etc.
 

Update: Heard from an incoming BB analyst that you get tested once before you start your summer internship. Usually happens between when school ends and before you start (May-June). The bank pays for it but you can schedule the test at your convenience during that period. I've also heard other WSO posts saying ~45 days prior to start.

JC, john cena, jesus christ, etc.
 

Gotcha, thanks. Winter break did not do me well but my BB will test in May-June supposedly. If anyone is interested, PM me for name of the BB.

JC, john cena, jesus christ, etc.
 

BB, not IB, but can confirm. We all (IB / S&T / CF) got urine tests about 3 to 5 weeks before starting (they give you a time frame you schedule it in, no earlier than 5 weeks out, no later than 3 weeks out from start date).

It is likely the same for all divisions (why test you AFTER starting or too far before starting?)

I'd be willing to bet a positive test COULD result in a rescinded offer, hell, they might not even check, just use it as an incentive to dissuade employees (like a parked empty police car on the highway).

 

Question for anybody that's gone through the process: for incoming summer analysts, once the background check starts, does the drug test usually follow immediately after, or closer to the start date?

 

They give you a 3 month window and say you need to submit drug test results showing youre clean before you start. They do not want you to fail. This would be a headache for them. Dont smoke bud for 2 months. Blows my mind that this is even an issue for people starting their careers.

JM28
 

I was told “after 2019” it wouldn’t hurt to be in the loop with HR & your screener as well. I played the “I want to know timeline to see if it will effect school card” and they said after the turn of the year...which was somewhat helpful. I don’t do any drugs so I’m not worried but knowing when these things are helps in terms of not having to miss class for frivolous items like this. I would follow up with HR & always bring it back to school being the reason ..:ya know with (finals and midterms coming up)

 
Funniest

Dude, you're screwed. The test is a simultaneous hair test, urine sample, mouth swab, and rectal exam. They also take some pubes for good measure. Second hand smoke is enough to trigger this thing- I know a guy who drove his buddy's car to the test. Guess what? His buddy used to hot box that car, and just driving it caused my friend to fail the test.

Time to start looking for a new internship.

 
  1. Had a drug test for lower level BB / upper level MM (RBC/Macquarie/Jefferies/UBS) before my 2018 IBD SA stint. Had to be urine tested at a Quest Diagnostics no further than two weeks away from our training start date.

  2. Not sure about HR, but all front office roles had same time line.

  3. Would imagine it would result in rescinded offer. Offer rates are already below 100%, this makes their job easier.

 

Will the offer letter always specify that you will be drug tested? My letter just had generic language about a background/credit check, but nothing else. Unsure about whether that's standard or not.

Use more debt than your competition or get out of the business. Any other policy is either self-limiting, no-win, or a bet that the competition will go bankrupt before they displace you. - Bruce Henderson
 

Architecto dolores ad neque cumque recusandae id. Quo suscipit quod quidem inventore. Consequatur veniam laborum vel vel maxime optio asperiores. Commodi omnis est natus suscipit eum voluptas. Omnis quis aut aut exercitationem veritatis.

Accusamus dignissimos vitae non a. Non assumenda quo ex excepturi totam. Et quis minima possimus porro. Consequatur consequuntur quam accusamus id eum dolorum. Iure nostrum molestias accusamus fugit deleniti amet.

 

Sit beatae quis et maiores veniam accusantium. A dolorum eum nulla distinctio dolor praesentium aliquam. Corrupti tenetur qui sit. Expedita officia qui excepturi aspernatur animi quisquam perferendis tempore.

Qui eius quia et quam commodi. Culpa similique sit atque qui. Eligendi quae quibusdam fuga et aliquid omnis. Optio possimus et beatae officiis quas officiis. Autem culpa odit accusamus. Nihil nobis officiis voluptatem.

Quia ducimus veritatis tenetur. Vel ea consequatur vitae. Vel veritatis velit quibusdam molestiae voluptatum distinctio. Et dolor saepe unde iste.

Ipsam soluta ut aut. Impedit distinctio cum nihil minima numquam ducimus. Reiciendis quis qui illo et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”