Realistically

Keep your head up man. I also go to a complete non-target and only received interviews after bulk-emailing every IB boutique in California. I sent out about 200 emails (combed through Cap IQ listings), received a 20% response rate, and converted about 2 interviews from there. Honestly boutiques recruit off cycle and with a 4.0, emailing every bank in your state and periodically following up is your best bet.

Did you also apply to corporate finance rotational programs? Did you get any interviews?

bro, my biggest advice is to start looking into msf programs now.

I sympathize with you my friend, but the reality of banking recruitment is very unfavorable towards non-targets, if you don't go to a target then your chances of being able to break into investment banking is extremely limited. You can't change your cards but you can effect how they are played, if I were you I would start contacting everyone I could: alumni, random people on linkedin, and cold calling anyone and everyone until I get a response. It will be hard and theres no guarantee you will get any results but it has been done before and you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. If you contact enough people and show that you are hungry, I think eventually someone will intrigued enough to give you a shot. Just buckle down and get ready to do a ton of hard work, I saw a quote on WSO recently that said something to the effect of your story can either be a tragedy or a success, it all depends on when you stop.

Start looking into grad programs or look outside finance Finance is extremely tough right now

MSF isn't a bad idea, if you have a 4.0, you are probably pretty smart (or at least really good at tests) and you should be able to do reasonably well on the GRE/GMAT and get into a target MSF where you can go from there. If you can bear the cost, getting an MSF is (IMO) better than kicking around a regional boutique or MO/BO. An MSF is usually much shorter than a stint at either of those places and you have a structured shot at getting a job, and at least get a brand name to put on your resume. In a worst case scenario, even if you end up with a so-so job after your MSF for whatever reason, you still get to say you went to BC/Princeton/LSE/Oxbridge and still get access to a much wider network.

What is your major

Thanks for that last response, it really cleared things up. I heard some horror story about 2+2 rejecting all business majors except for like 1 guy in consulting. I'll definitely look more into 2+2 and MSF soon. For tests, should I study for and take the GRE or GMAT? Is there much of a difference?

You're welcome, Silver Bananas appreciated haha. Do keep in mind that it's not a cakewalk by any means. 6% of 115 admits were business undergrads. That is a slim shot, but it does prove that undergrad business major != auto-ding for the 2+2 program.

For the GMAT, read this thread. //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/should-i-take-the-gmat-before-the-changes You can see my response there as well as some other comments. If I were in your shoes, I'd take the GMAT and apply it for both the MSF and 2+2 apps. Two birds, one stone, you know the deal.

I have simple advice for you:

1) Network, Network, Network: talk to anyone and everyone you possibly can that is in IB/PE/HF/AM and find a way to meet more of them through the little connections you can drum up.

2) Apply everywhere and don't give up, you will need to call on networking connections to the places you apply so network as much as you possibly can.

No matter what, do not give up. Its not impossible, just difficult.

Usually I toot the Networking horn pretty loudly but even that is going to be tough in the middle of fucking nowhere and little to no (probably none) alumni.

I second the MSF approach. Shoot me a PM and we can chat more if you want. (I'm bored as fuck because I'm the only one here.)