Terrible GPA, bad resume. Is there still hope for me?

Im a rising sophomore at a non-target. Last year I made some bad decisions and was focused on the wrong things my first year and didn’t have IB on my radar of interests. I did terrible that year and didnt really attempt to do better when I noticed my falling grades and I finished with a 2.3. I put time and effort over the summer learning technicals, researching IB and just started studying for my FINRA SIE. I understand that gpa cutoffs for most every bank is a 3.3 but that’s really if you have great experience and maybe a prior internship. Investment banking is what I want to do I want to work in a finance field where I feel intellectually challenged but I feel like at this point I have no hope, applications open in the fall of my sophomore year for jr year internships and I won’t even have a subpar resume. ChatGPT tells me I have hope if I apply for some late/off cycle internships my junior fall but I don’t trust this.

12 Comments
 

don't waste your time studying for finra let me tell you exactly what you need to do, do not waste your time cold email every ib and pe boutique in your area leave no stone unturned after this valuation shops Asking for an internship realistically you can not do much now, network with a few banks but your chances are low as it is I would try to get solid contacts at every  lower bb and lower mm secondary to you securing one of the boutiques above. Land something solid for junior summer even if unpaid would set you up nicely for full time circle back to those bb and upper mm contacts summer of your junior year.This not easy but your gpa is a hindrance you will need to do all of this there is no short cur I am going through something similar right now. I wish you luck. 

 

Second this. Aside from networking your balls off and boosting your GPA, do everything you can to get involved at your uni. 

Case competitions, finance clubs, becoming a tutor, etc. 

These kind of things (especially competitions) can lead to real world experience and become great resume builders. Breaking into a non-BB isn't impossible for you, but your window begins to close if you don't lock in.  

It's unlikely you'll land something for next year at this point but I think you know that. 

You still have time, so focus on the long run and do everything you can to be an attractive hire by graduation. 

Best of luck. 

 
Funniest

You obviously don't need to work in IB to be intellectually challenged, based on your current track record. Research less competitive roles and try lateraling later. There are plenty of jobs in finance that don't require you to have your stuff together from the start, but unfortunately IB is not one. 

 

www dot Target dot com back slash careers. 

Best of luck. 

 

It's going to be very tricky. The problem is that almost every seat has hundreds of students from targets with solid GPAs fighting for them. Maybe not as much the case in MM/LMM/small boutique shops, but still competitive. You have to recognize the fact that, on paper, there's no reason to give you a chance. You have a pretty poor GPA and are coming from a non target. That's all people will really see. So, you need something that stands out and makes you worth hiring. Just try the thought exercise of putting yourself in the employers shoes, and it might help to see their perspective when it comes to hiring. 

 

You're in for a world of disappointment under these circumstances. I think you should transfer schools to get that GPA a reset and re-do your sophomore year. With that GPA, you may only be able to transfer to a worse school, but 2.3 is too low for anyone to take you seriously. I had a 3.6 in Econ and people still gave me shit for it and some jobs explicitly told me in the final round of interviews that they typically only hired 3.7+. 

 

Unfortunately your GPA is really going to limit you. Going through the regular application portal won't work if HR automatically screens out anything less than 3.5 GPA, which is the normal barrier.
Consult with your academic advisor to retake the classes that you failed/close to failing. You'll might have to take a semester or whole academic year extra  to graduate but honestly that might help you with recruiting. 
Also your major choice and your school will play into this. For example, a 3.0 Engineering Major at MIT will get a bit more rope compared to a 3.0 Business major at a non-target. 
Edit: Didn't see your non-target part. Normally I'd say if you can transfer out to a better school(Cost in mind of course) then I would say do that, but 2.3 GPA will hurt you even in that regard. 

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