URGENT - Trouble with BG Check References

Hi. Most of my teachers from high school have left my school so I sort of gave the name of a super shady teacher as my reference. I didn't think they would actually reach out to her because I submitted my official board-certified transcript so I also kind of forgot to tell her. She responded to the firm in an email cc'ing me saying I had not reached out to her and that she has no idea what this internship is and so cant provide any information. am I screwed? 

4 Comments
 

Based on previous WSO threads, here are some steps you can take to address this situation:

  1. Immediate Communication: Reach out to the firm as soon as possible. Explain the situation honestly and provide context about the difficulty in reaching your previous teachers. Emphasize that it was an oversight and not an intentional misrepresentation.

  2. Alternative References: Offer alternative references who can vouch for your character and academic performance. This could include other teachers, coaches, or mentors who are familiar with your work ethic and achievements.

  3. Clarify with the Teacher: Contact the teacher who responded to the firm. Apologize for the oversight and explain the situation. Ask if she would be willing to provide a reference now that she understands the context.

  4. Documentation: Provide any additional documentation that can support your application, such as letters of recommendation from other teachers or mentors, or additional transcripts.

  5. Follow-Up: After addressing the issue, follow up with the firm to ensure they have received the new information and to reaffirm your interest in the internship.

By taking these steps, you can demonstrate your proactive approach and commitment to resolving the issue, which can help mitigate any negative impact on your application.

Sources: Am I Screwed? Feeling desperate in job search despite strong academic profile, Freshman GPA - am i screwed?, Lied about my GPA to get a summer analyst position but came to my senses., I have no offer right now, am I screwed?, How screwed am I??

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Perferendis dolores nostrum iusto sit. Autem alias autem enim mollitia et ut architecto aut. Iusto fugit illum ut. Et voluptates est exercitationem ut quibusdam doloribus aspernatur.

Non quas deserunt reprehenderit non. Minus consequatur quo distinctio magni et ut. Sequi reprehenderit eaque et illo.

Illo tempore autem facilis libero possimus. Nostrum assumenda reiciendis dolor repellat minus deleniti deserunt similique. Eos beatae odit et velit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (77) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (71) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”