Next Steps in Prepping for IB recruitment
I just finished my freshman year at a non-target big state school majoring in Finance, my goal is to get into IB. I applied to 3 targets to transfer to my sophomore year and didn't get into any. I had a 4.2 GPA (96+ in every class) was vice president of a club, an analyst at the school's investment fund, and also in a position in a fraternity. I think I killed it my first year of college, but this still wasn't good enough. Also, I won't be able to apply after the end of the spring semester because I have too many credits. I have a mentor telling me that I should take the spring semester off (I would still graduate on time because I am ahead) and apply to literally every target / semi-target out there. My parents think I need to just stay at my current school and be the best I can; big fish in a little pond type of thing. I don't know what to do, they are both right, my mentor in terms that going to a target is SUCH an advantage but also my parents, I didn't get in the first time even if get all As again my application would basically be the same so what's the point in taking time off now when I can take a gap semester when I have an inter ship or a real opportunity later in college. I also currently have an internship at a private equity firm/search fund which could improve my next round of applications. Also to note, taking a semester off would likely mean losing my positions in most of the clubs I'm in. I really want to help my chances of landing a job in IB but taking a semester off just to get denied will set me back even further.
Any and all advice is appreciated
You should stay at your school you are at right now. If you have a solid GPA plus lots of high positions in some of these clubs you are more than set to get into IB. You don't want to lose all of the friends you have made by taking a semester off and going to a different school. If you have that PE internship your already ahead of the game and will have no problem breaking in. Just network a lot next year and you will get in.
That was another big issue with transferring me - I’ve made great friendships with people at my current school, I will definitely stay here and continue to pursue banking
Yeah just keep doing what you are doing and you’ll be good. I’m non-target have a 3.7 gpa, didn’t have a PE internship or anything just prepped really hard, showed my real personality and expressed general interest and got multiple offers.
You shouldn’t let the fact that you go to a non-target give you imposter syndrome! You’re doing amazing and have a very impressive resume for a freshman I believe? I would just keep doing exactly what you’re doing and you’ll stand out more than the target kids while being miles ahead of the pack!
Thanks I appreciate the support, I will keep working to achieve my goals
I think it’s a bit important to differentiate what kind of “non target” school you are at and what level of target you are looking at. If it’s a school where you literally have less then 5 people sent to finance in the past vs a HYP school then it would be more worth it that say, a state school that does fairly well to a lower semi target
I go to Georgia state University which has a pretty good business school for MBAs but isn’t the best undergrad, people do get into baking but a lot of alumni I’ve met through finance clubs work at truist and I really want to work for a BB or EB investment bank, truist is almost never listed on any list and it had lower compensation and exit opps.
The fact that you brought up the "strength" of the graduate business school (which is even then still an ultra non-target) says a lot. Stop thinking like this. It will only harm you. GSU is an ultra non-target no matter how you spin it, so stop discounting firms like Truist and regional banks. Even if you're a diversity target, it will still be an immense uphill battle from GSU. Even just REGIONALLY, you're competing against GT, Emory, and HBCU's - all of which are yield significantly stronger candidates than GSU (Emory = ~T20, GT = engineering smart nerds, HBCU = diversity resources). There's 100s of other "investment club analysts" just in Atlanta that go to better schools than you. What makes you different? Your freshman year 4.0 of all pre-req's? Look - I'm just trying to humble you because you are in no position to shit on a bank like Truist. If you keep the mindset of you being too good for regional/boutique banks, you will not get an offer.
I literally said "pretty good" not saying it's amazing or even a target MBA school but it is good, also never shit on truist they recruit heavily from GSU so that's where most people go, I'm not allowed to want to go to a BB? Key word is want, of course I'm going to apply there and I'm not going to turn down an offer. I'm here asking for legit advice but if not reading a full post and shitting on people for not going to as good of a school as you makes your day then good for you
Also it wasn't all pre reqs I already had a full year of APs so it was ACCT 1 and 2 CIS, corporate finance and other relevant businesses but yeah you definitely know what classes I took 💀
Prospects humbling other prospects? In all seriousness what a unhelpful post. I’m always against entitlement but aiming for a better firm than Truist I think is fine. At least wanting to go somewhere that gives him better chances at a top MM bank or maybe BB/EB is a fine thought process.
Not super familiar with your schools presence in IB but from what u said my advice is that there’s a ton of factors in deciding such as which targets/semi targets u get admitted into, when you would be transferring (due to recruiting timeline), cost of the new school, etc.
If you do stay and bet on yourself then you’re going to have to network hard. Not impossible to do banking from a non target (done many times before) but just not as easy
Holy shit dude. The more I read this comment the more I want to off myself. You go to GSU -which you don’t even have the perks of saying that you went there for financial reasons, since in-state tuition applies for way better schools like UGA/GT- yet you “really want to work at EB/BB”. If target admission officers won’t take a chance on you, what makes you think EB/BBs, which have a more competitive application process, will? You have some serious soul searching to do. This isn’t confidence, it’s arrogance/entitlement. I’m just telling you this because this is what an outsider sees and might think of you, so just reflect on your goals, current position, and be realistic about what’s achievable. Having preconceived entitlement about wanting to go to a top tier bank -likely for no other reason than prestige- will only hurt you in the long run. Best of luck.
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