Non - Target to IB

Hello, relatively new to WSO. I'm currently a freshman at a non-target looking for some advice on internships + how to break into IB. I go to a UC (not berkeley or LA) so I don't have a huge alumni network currently working in high finance. As stated before, I'm a freshman so haven't gotten any attention from the 30+ summer internships I've applied for. Do I start cold emailing employees at some of my target firms? Will they pay any attention to a college freshman? I have a terrible hs GPA(around 3.5 weighted) but as far as college goes I have a 4.0 + 2 clubs (one executive position). Do I continue to grind it out (practicing financial models and studying deal flow) or should I start networking? Thanks in advance. 


 

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