College sophomore in need of career advice

Hello all, I am currently an accounting major trying to get summer internships in the finance/accounting business. Since I go to a very non-targeted school (SUNY New Paltz), I expect to have a harder time than someone from a target school in terms of working in this business. I have no accounting experience, but I think my resume looks good for someone looking for their first internship.

As for the internships, I have applied to 2 of the big 4, as well as some smaller businesses, but I have gotten no responses.

What am I doing wrong, what should I do to better my chances, and do you guys have any general advice?

Thank you for reading!

2 Comments
 
Best Response

The Big 4 typically only hires rising college seniors for summer internships. I went to a school with fewer than 1,000 students and had zero contact with any Big 4 firms and landed not only a job, but they gave me a fellowship that paid for my entire graduate program.

It can be done, but not as a sophomore.

Most summer internships are filled during the fall and spring recruiting process. You'll want to talk to someone in your admissions office or your accounting advisor about how to get invited to a larger school's "meet the firms" event next fall.

As for this summer you might want to get in touch with a local CPA and see if they have any openings (this will most likely be low paying.)

Good luck!

"Everybody needs money. That's why they call it money." - Mickey Bergman - Heist (2001)
 

Magni doloribus dignissimos amet deleniti. Quos est sed nulla ipsum officia in. Voluptates earum ipsa ratione ut odio et atque nostrum.

Quas temporibus a quo tenetur. Sit inventore corrupti nobis culpa vitae ipsam. Enim ipsam et quos ut. Ut dolor accusantium assumenda quasi cum quo voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • 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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”