Tips for Freshman Working Summer IB Internship

Hey Monkeys,

I’m currently a rising sophomore who just finished my freshman year at a strictly non-target state school with a 3.6 GPA (hoping to bump it to ~3.7 after summer classes), and I just started a summer internship at a boutique investment bank (I also took my SIE before the internship). The firm focuses on small to mid-cap biotech and tech companies, primarily in ECM markets with an emphasis on PIPEs.

I'm extremely grateful to have this opportunity given my background, but I know that recruiting for junior summer internships (starting this winter) is going to be brutal coming from a non-target. That said, I’m looking for concrete advice on what I should be doing now to maximize my chances for a junior summer front office offer.

Questions I’d love help with:

1. How should I be spending my time this summer outside of the internship?
   • Should I be grinding networking calls now or waiting until the fall?
   • Is it worth applying to other off-cycle internships to stack experience?
2. What should I be doing during the internship to stand out?
3. How do I position this experience in networking and applications for next summer?

Quick Background:

• 3.6 GPA, shooting for ~3.7 by end of summer.
• Non-target state school, but actively improving resume through leadership/finance clubs and taking on responsibility.
• Strong interest in IB and/or private credit/SPO.

Appreciate any insights from those who’ve been in similar shoes or who recruit from these types of shops. What would you prioritize right now if you were me?

Thanks in advance!