Advice for a low GPA undergrad sophomore?

Hey everyone,

I am currently a sophomore Finance major at a large state school in the south that is a semi-target for some investment banks. My hope is to break into investment banking, but I have some issues. First, my GPA is very low, sitting at about a 3.1-3.2 due to partying excessively my freshman year. This will most likely result in me having to switch majors, probably to Economics. Luckily I've already completed the two core accounting classes and I'll also be taking corporate finance next year so I will have some technical knowledge. I also hope to minor in Real Estate as well, because I want to explore the possibility of working in real estate. I know that for the next two years my grades are of the utmost importance, and I will do everything I can to get my GPA up. However in the meantime I feel that my low GPA disqualifies me from many internships and also other business organizations at school. I am currently trying to obtain an accounting or private wealth management internship with small local firms for Summer 2017 to gain some legitimate work experience and try to mitigate the damage of my low GPA on my resume. What are some things that I can do to set myself up well for some boutique bank or even bulge-bracket recruiting later on, considering my GPA and the likelihood I'll have to switch majors? Any and all feedback about recruiting or my situation in general would mean a lot to me. Thanks.

1 Comments
 

Eos et dolore velit aspernatur. Quis necessitatibus rem iure illo tempore. Illo sed porro doloremque quam optio ab. Doloribus est natus consequuntur a facilis. Odio pariatur quibusdam non.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 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

July 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

July 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

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (24) $180
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (82) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”