Do you have any advice for a College Sophomore?

I'm just looking for some guidance for people who have made it, or for people who know how to. I am currently a sophomore at the University of Rochester with a 3.24 GPA going into my fourth semester. I've always had a strong desire to get into the investment banking world (I am really interested in trading).

I was really optimistic, but then this last semester I had an off semester and my GPA dropped a little bit. I then realized that in order to get that 3.5 GPA I will have no more room for failure. I also feel that I'm at a disadvantage because I go to UR, which is a really good school, but it is not as good as Harvard of Princeton, and doesn't even have the name recognition of some inferior schools. I also am at a disadvantage because I don't know anybody in the industry. I do know people who know people in the industry though.

What I am basically asking is, what do you think I should do to get into investment banking? Do I still even have a chance anymore?

I am going to put forth everything I have to raise my GPA up to an acceptable level and am going to get an even better internship than last summer.

Thanks

5 Comments
 

I just posted this in another thread but besides getting your GPA up, the best possible thing you can do is get relevant work experience.

I interned at a MM after my junior year, and when FT recruiting came around the next fall, having that investment banking experience put me head and shoulders above a lot of other applicants, even ones with higher GPAs.

Sophomore summer isn't too early to get an internship - check with your school's career office.

- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

Realistically, if you are motivated and get your GPA up. Do decent internships, network and practice interviewing skills, you will be a candidate. Dont let the opinion of random people dictate what you do (including myself). Talk to someone in the industry, but my humble suggestions will get you to a better place.

Also note, there are 100 ways into banking. If at first you dont succeed...

 

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