I'm getting rejected by school clubs.

I've joined most of my school's consulting, finance, and accounting related clubs. A few of them have programs I could join that would basically improve my resume and bolster my skills. Unfortunately, I've been rejected by every single one of these club programs. And so, I'm an ordinary member of all of these clubs.

Granted I'm still a freshman, but all my friends have gotten into the programs as freshmen so I'm the only one left out. Also, my GPA is kinda bad because of reasons I won't disclose, but it's bad enough that it would be auto rejected by algorithms. And I also have something planned for this summer that isn't an internship or any experience.

What should my plan of action be from now on? I plan on networking, but starting in the fall for sophomore year internships. I'm trying to get my gpa back up. Should I reapply to these programs in the fall?

Bonus: should I get the CFA investment foundations? It's so much work, but I could get it if I grinded.

39 Comments
 

You say you've "joined" all of these school clubs... but then say you've been rejected by them. This is confusing. Did you mean you've "applied" to all of these clubs, but been rejected?   Or I guess you mean that you've been admitted to the clubs, but not been admitted to the clubs' programs... I've never heard of clubs having programs you have to apply to.   

 

there was only an interview for one, the rest were all supposed to be, you apply you get in, but the programs already started :/ And I know I applied because I got the google form results back and they didn't reply to my emails

 

I feel where you're coming from. Same exact thing happened to me lmao... I will say I did have the "privilege" of being at a target but I really just did my own thing and sat on the weekly meetings when an interesting event popped up. Get your GPA up by any means necessary and look for a search fund/PE internship at a small boutique. You mentioned you had planned this summer so hopefully, you can include that in there. You're still a freshman, don't be hard on yourself. I had a late start and still snagged an IB internship for this Summer.

 

what i have planned isnt related to finance and isn't an internship. In fact, I'm not proud of it. I saw this girl get a position as a sales and trading intern at Merrill lynch her sophomore year, but shes from Harvard. I'm tryna get the same thing by networking soon. And yea, I'm working on my gpa, but it's rough. Might try to get an off-cycle internship but that's gonna be tough.

 

The first step is to stop comparing yourself to others. That's exactly what I did and it's only gonna fuck you up more. I didn't do anything wild my freshman summer and ended up fine. I don't know what your current circumstances are but if you are able to take an unpaid internship try for one at a Search Fund. You have the right mindset for sophomore next year, relax. Also, don't think about taking the CFA until your senior year at least lol

 

I know someone who was not in a single finance club and who got an EB offer. Message me if you wanna talk. Im not in finance, banking, accounting, consulting clubs, etc. and have gotten looks/interviews. 

 

Oh yeah my dad is an MD. He told me that I don't need a decent GPA, clubs, or internships to get in :)

But in all seriousness, senior people are very removed from the hiring process insofar as they don't see all the rejects. Sure an MD can help you out by pushing your app, but he isn't going to be flipping through resumes with HR and analysts lmao.

 

Your still a freshman, relax

I was in your shoes freshman year. Apply next semester's and if you still don't get in, go start networking yourself. Keep your chin up

 

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