What GPA will allow me to stand out and give me a chance at top banks? (GS, JPM, MS)

I just recently finished my freshman year with just above a 3.7 GPA at a target school and I want to double major in either Math and Economics OR Math and Philosophy (and maybe add a minor if I have time). I'm also involved in 4 organizations on campus, and I'm on a committee for 3 of them. 3 of the orgs are also business related.

As I'm going into my sophomore year, I'm curious what exactly I need to do to make myself stand out to most banks and have a shot at the top ones. I'm currently doing a financial services internship so I'm getting experience but I'm also debating if I should take a math class over the summer at a CC to boost my GPA because math at my school is a lot harder (which would cost $4k and I'm going to be in debt when I graduate).

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

10 Comments
 

It seriously takes more effort on his part to write this post, quantify the effort he needs to put into his work in order to attain a certain grade (while factoring in a margin of safety or uncertainty), and then to adjust his studying habits to match that exactly, than to just shut up and get an A. I don't understand posts like this. You need to do as good as you possibly can.

 

Your GPA is fine. If you want to improve your chances at getting an interview, network with alumni and have them vouch for you when the time comes. Enjoy school. I've seen people with straight finance backgrounds with high GPAs lose a place to someone with an art history degree and a 3.5 because they were more interesting. You're at a target and so 80% of the people you're competing against are qualified to get the job, the differentiating factor is making it seem like it won't suck sitting next to you for 80+ hours a week if they hire you.

 

How do you get them to vouch for you when it comes to interviews? Do you send them an email saying to put in a good word for me or what?

 

I'm not very subtle so I've just directly asked (Can you add me to the recruiting process?). But the people I get along best with are blunt, as am I, so they appreciate things being put that way. Make sure they are VP+

 

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