breaking into BB/IB or MBB from non target

Hello, I am from Alaska and will be attending a non target university (U.C.Berkeley, non HAAS). I am getting a BA in data science. Do I stand a shot, if so how? 

19 Comments
 

Are you in one of Berkeley's banking clubs or perhaps a frat? If not, you should consider joining one so older members can show you the ropes. Are you finishing up your sophomore year and recruiting for summer 2022? You seem a bit lost imo, but I'm happy to help you

 

Yeah you basically have to be ready at the right time. You won't make it if you lack any element but it's hard to fuck up if everything is in place when you start applying to summer analyst programs around spring of your second year.

Your tasks are networking, interview prep, internships (every summer), and involvement in your school's finance / investing clubs. By the middle of sophomore year the goal is to be able to answer any interview question, have a good contact at every bank you like if not a few of them, have done a banking or PE internship or something similar, and be on the board of your finance club and contribute to your school's investment fund. No guarantees but you'll be competitive 

Also FYI berkeley is one of maybe three or four target schools on the west coast. I broke in from a decidedly non-target UC.

 

Quia repellat asperiores velit non et cum facilis error. Perspiciatis iste quo assumenda animi. Necessitatibus dolorem quo placeat nihil blanditiis aliquid. Assumenda provident dolore non dolorem autem rem labore repudiandae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”