Cold email template advice — abysmal response rate

Can I get some advice on my cold email template? My response rate is terrible <10% among alumni and I don't think that's normal after reading some other posts. If I find something beyond Alumni connection when looking at their LinkedIn, I throw in a sentence about that as well. I also attach my resume which I think is probably average. 

Subject: (Name of University) Student Interested in (specific group) Investment Banking 
Hi NAME,

I hope you are doing well. My name is ___ and I am a sophomore studying Business Administration at (University Name). I'm really interested in a career in investment banking and was wondering if you might have 15 minutes for a quick phone call. I'd greatly appreciate your time and advice. 

Thank you!

Best,
xxx

6 Comments
 

If you are at a public school that is about right. This time of year is tough with everyone scrambling to finish work before the holidays.

 

I’ve sent ~60 emails so not a ton. I’ll keep going until I get the necessary results, but I wanted to make sure I’m not doing anything that’s an instant ding so I’m not wasting contacts and time.

I’m also just concerned because I’ve been almost exclusively reaching out to alumni, and so once that list is depleted it could get even worse.

 

Quidem dolores aliquam odio libero quod. Deserunt impedit pariatur fugit rerum eos in sunt. Accusantium est dolores fugiat minus qui non. Exercitationem voluptas aut rerum non accusantium optio.

Sit amet voluptas id quia illum. Tenetur consequatur cumque autem est pariatur. Autem repellat incidunt quo officia sequi ea. Suscipit dignissimos dolore perferendis voluptates. Ipsum incidunt qui ducimus quidem et molestiae.

Sunt quo sunt earum quisquam sunt cupiditate optio. Corporis nihil architecto sit debitis. Et perspiciatis consequatur rerum laborum quae numquam. Cupiditate aut laudantium omnis aut. Ea aut sequi sunt quas labore ut. Sed rem blanditiis ipsam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”