Am I Fucked.
Im currently in the process of transferring schools which required me to go to a community college this year. Im also a sophomore technically and I haven't began recruiting for IB Internships. I was going to hold off untill I transfer out of my CC but Im seeing people in my grad year (2027) are getting their 2026 summer internships. Im currently doing an unpaid search fund internship to at least be doing something, but should I still try and learn my technicals and recruit for 2026 this year? Is there still hope of me breaking into IB?
There is still hope as some spots will be available for junior year internship but applications deadlines already passed - you can’t hold of to apply. Timelines are strict
Some spots are def available but prob at mm - start networking and preparing immediately. Interviews for spots available will be ahead of this summer (prob already occurring) so you are behind the curve
Still a chance but need to start trying immediately
Thanks man, I don't know much of my technicals, but do you know if MM are as tech heavy as EBs? I see some sources say MM and BB are more behavioral focused compared to EBs and I should focus more on basic tech questions. Do you agree with that?
Not really - MM banks are usually more technical heavy than certain BB banks (ex BofA / Citi). less technical questions than EB like evercore or center view obviously
But they will def ask all standard ones - you need to know those at the min (acing behavioral qs won’t get you the job if you mess up basic technicals like walk me through dcf)
Hello, I'm not OP but in a similar situation. How do you start networking from a community college? Do you reach out to alumni of the school you're transferring to when you are accepted? Also, is it even worth trying considering you'd probably need to delay graduation a year to even hit deadlines? (If it isn't, are there some other solid financial careers to shoot for that value technicals without extreme competition and strict deadlines?)
What's up man OP here, I'm thinking the same thing as you. I think wherever I transfer to I may delay graduation year because I really only want to do IB. I think I'm going to start network as soon as I know what school I go to. I'm still going to try for this year and learn my technicals but I don't think banks would even look my way with a community college on my resume.
Also, my situation may be different. I'm only around $10k in loans rn in my "sophomore" year. I have most of my ACCT and general education classes done. What I'm trying to say is that, depending on which school, I may graduate with a small amount of debt even after pushing my graduation back. I think if you have more debt it would be riskier, but just trying to give some insight
cooked for ib atp
Do banks really secure their Summer Analyst classes like 16 months in advance now? That's nuts!
Yea man, most of my friends are RECEIVING their offers right now and continue to do so. I'm pretty sure recruiting began around Fall last year for 2026.
Brutal man, I don't envy you guys. Way back in my day we thought it was crazy that we had to start networking for Junior summer at the end of Sophomore summer. At this rate, I'm sure someday kids will recruit for Junior Summer Analyst gigs during high school.
Yes, there is hope for you. Don'y worry too much about internships until you land yourself at your post-CC school. No one in IBD will hire a CC kid, but once you end up at a 4 year school, if you are smart and ambitious you will be fine.
A good friend of mine and I both went to CC as we realized after our freshman years we had no clue what we wanted to do. We both got offers in IBD (internships and FT), and he still works in banking to this day.
If you are at a CC trying to transfer, focus on a 4.0 to maximize your options. If you have already been accepted to a 4 year school, still just keep your grades up and practice your technicals.
Once you have completed one semester at your 4 year school, remove your CC from your resume, and you can start to network.
I have had people who have reached out to me who came from a CC and told me so. One student went from a CC to the same 4 year school as I did, and got a 4.0 at both institutions. I had the utmost respect for him and went out of my way to help him as much as possible. With my help (he was the smart one I was merely a sounding board), he got IBD, ER, S&T, and Consulting offers. There is a stigma around going to CC and it is pretty rare in the IB world, so you want to be careful about who you share that part of your life with (if anyone). But if you know someone went as well, odds are they will go to bat for you.
One last tip - dont mention when you graduated high school, just indicate your grad date from the 4-year school on your resume. I mentioned transfering in an interview and the interviewee found out I was on the 5-year plan (even though he never considered that I may have leveraged CC as a way to save money), and immediately ended the interview. Ever since then, I did my best to appear as though I was a normal student on a four year graduation track from my current uni, but I would never lie.
Keep your head up and work hard, and this won't slow you down in the slightest. Let yourself feel like an unqualified imposter, and this will impact your success. Don't get in your own head about it. CC is a powerful resource that has a lot of value during your first year or two during college as a cost saving measure.
Thank you man you have no idea how much this helps!
Cheers, remember there are more Community College students in highly sought after finance roles than you would think, but you would never know it as most folks never add their CC to their resumes or LinkedIns.
When you transfer, discreetly roll yourself back a year by choosing a degree plan that requires it. After you get the internship and return offer, change back to your original plan and graduate early. There'll be a break between graduation and starting full-time. Don't tell anyone this is your plan.
I never thought about that, you're a genius.
I'm curious if you did that? Would choosing a program that's irrelevant hurt my chances of breaking in? For example, I choose history and that is what banks see on my resume.
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