IB/Equity Research Internship Advice

I'm a sophomore at NYU Stern doing Finance and I'm trying to get an internship in IB or equity research for the summer. Unfortunately, I only have a 3.4 from my freshman year but I did do an internship at a smaller hedge fund last summer. I know my GPA is pretty low for any of the bulge bracket banks, but I honestly just want to get an internship in NYC for the summer to get more experience before recruiting rolls around. Does anyone have any advice on getting internships in these fields/where to apply? Also would it hurt to apply to big banks even with the gpa I have?

 
Best Response

Don't try BB banks. Try boutiques or European banks. A 3.4 really isn't that bad since you're a sophomore. The GPA matters the most for recruiting and next year's internship. The bigger problem you face is being a sophomore. The best way to get around that is networking, but most people end up getting weak internships or unpaid gigs sophomore year. It wouldn't hurt to apply anywhere because you can still apply again regardless of whether you've applied there before.

 
blackjack21:
Don't try BB banks. Try boutiques or European banks. A 3.4 really isn't that bad since you're a sophomore. The GPA matters the most for recruiting and next year's internship. The bigger problem you face is being a sophomore. The best way to get around that is networking, but most people end up getting weak internships or unpaid gigs sophomore year. It wouldn't hurt to apply anywhere because you can still apply again regardless of whether you've applied there before.

What would constitute a "strong" or "decent" summer experience sophomore year?

There are a LOT of boutiques and MM firms throughout NYC/SF. Is it the bullet points that make the difference? The name?

 

It's not about the name. It's about the experience and connections you gain. It doesn't take a genius to realize that as an intern you're not going to do much, but it's how you leverage that time. Use it as a building block.

I'd say a solid summer for sophomore year would be either a well-known international bank internship (non-American bank) or a boutique in the sector you want to go into where they let you take the reins and teach you a lot.

 

Libero eos explicabo et quae sit. Praesentium eos aliquid quas enim. Similique numquam eveniet sapiente qui quo.

Sed sapiente eum laboriosam voluptatem nihil accusamus culpa. Fuga omnis dolorem rerum molestiae. Ad incidunt nulla atque et sed omnis aut. Dolore fugiat harum non soluta. Veritatis nulla perferendis et iusto.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (20) $385
  • Associates (88) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (67) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”