Will be halfway done with my undergrad soon...tips?

Hello!

So I'm about to finish up my sophomore year in May as a dual major in Finance and Accounting. I go to a small, private university down here in the south and I'm also in the honor's program. I will have a 3.6 gpa after this semester (not the best.)

I have no job experience at the moment. The only business classes I have taken are micro/macro, financial accounting, managerial accounting, and business law. I will be taking Intermediate Acc. I Honors and Federal Tax Acc. next semester.

So I write in this forum to ask for any advice or suggestions on what my next steps (for my last two years of undergrad) should be for advancing myself into a career after college in IB.

Yes, I know how competitive it is, even more since I don't attend a top tier school, but that's not stopping me.

I really appreciate the advice, Gabie

6 Comments
 
Best Response
  1. Relentlessly network (alumni, Linkedin, anyone who is willing to talk, etc.)
  2. Get your GPA higher if possible, although 3.6 should work
  3. Get an internship relating to finance/business this summer
  4. Get the WSO or M&I interview guides and study 30 minutes to an hour a day

If you do all of that stuff you have a good shot. I had 3.6 from a non target, with two non finance related majors, and one internship relating to finance. That being said I did all of the four things I listed above and I landed a pretty good SA offer for this summer. I worked hard and got some breaks along the way, but honestly, you make your own luck.

 

Your GPA is fine so I'd just keep it around that. I would invest more time early on in networking, which is likely to result in internship opportunities (seriously, I didn't realize the importance of this until senior year). Email, call, search alumni databases, whatever. You can always get something out of it. Worst case scenario you just have an OK conversation. Take every opportunity to get involved in school community activities/parties/events. This is the aspect I missed most after grad and this is how you make good friends who will help/connect you later on. Finally college is the best time ever to get lots and lots of chicks.

 
"frenchstudent"

Your GPA is fine so I'd just keep it around that. I would invest more time early on in networking, which is likely to result in internship opportunities (seriously, I didn't realize the importance of this until senior year).

This. Your GPA is above 3.5. I highly doubt (though not impossible) that you will be denied interviews or offers because you don't have a 3.7+. However, you won't get any of either without networking hard and figuring out which way you want to go. Remember, get an internship, even if it is unpaid (if your financial situation allows it). As far as resume building goes: Paid internship > Unpaid internship > Volunteering > Summer job > Doing nothing. Good luck! PM me if you need more details

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
 

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