Undergrad and I need advice TIFU
This is my first time writing one of these as I normally just read discussions, but I need some help.
Firstly, for some background. I go to a non-target university (still decent recruiting) majoring in Finance, and involved with two Finance related clubs. The first one is just something to put on your resume and the second one is considered one of the premier clubs for finance, with 100% placement. Outside of school I am in SEO, sports and I just joined a fraternity. This is where I need help.
First semester I had a 3.42, not ideal, just because I was far too involved with my sports team. Come along this semester I pledged. For a period of a month I did no work, didn't even mind to check my grades. I now have two more final exams and after having calculated my GPA I am going to finish with a 2.6-2.8, best case scenario. I feel a sense of failure beyond words. This whole semester my mentors were telling me to prioritize my GPA for recruiting and I completely neglected that. My aspirations of getting recruited into a BB or even MM for S&T or IB seems completely out of questions.
Are there any recommendations what I can do next year to rebound myself out of this hole I dug myself into? This summer I am doing an 8 week course to prepare myself for interviews; 400 question guide, modeling, research, etc. I already plan on focusing on my GPA and applying to a second premier group that will help me vastly. Anything will help.
4.0 next fall. End of story. Try to get an unpaid/part-time finance internship for this summer/next fall. You're an athlete so people not only understand but will (slightly) overlook your GPA.
Network your ass off and prepare a strong story that proves you're more than your GPA
Hadn't thought about an internship for next semester, but will definitely get on that. Would externships help too? I have connections to PE from my brother, but I am going to need to use my college's vast alumni network to try and get into buy-side. Thank you for the advice
Anything to talk about/fill a resume with is great. You got this
I’ve been in these exact shoes to the point that past me could’ve written this (except I was not a NCAA athlete). It made recruitment complete hell, and that was back before it was as early as it is now. I can only share my experience so please don’t be disheartened. You need to get a 4.0 (3.8 MINIMUM) for the rest of college if you want to break free.
For me, BBs and EBs were completely out of the question (had absolutely 0 interest in candidate with my background). However because I was able to bang out great grades in my major, and I got great grades after finishing my freshman year with a shit GPA, AND I was heavily involved on campus in finance and outside of finance activities, AND I had multiple finance internships including a no name IB internship on my resume which I got after networking with hundreds (plural) of bankers, AND I was extremely polished in interviews because I did probably 5 practice rounds before each interview (had 5-6 processes) with my friends, intern coworkers, random strangers on the steeet, anybody AND I practiced technicals and modeling non stop AND I put my resumes through multiple rounds of editing and review by bankers AND I was matured and humbled through my failures. Ended up getting traction with MM firms and joined a prominent MM that’s talked about on this website and pays above BB (but below top EBs) with bad hours but only due to high dealflow.
It’s doable but not easy. Because of my mistakes early in college, I had to work twice as hard as my peers only to get a “worse” outcome (than the top 10%, still did better than 90% outcome wise). The only good side is I get paid above market, I’ve gotten good deal flow (3 closed M&A where I was primary analyst and more in the pipe), and plenty of people in my analyst year have lateraled to BB/EB I just like my spot so haven’t felt the need to jump.
My honest advice is either you commit now to putting your 110% and doing EVERYTHING it takes no matter what the cost every single day to succeed or just pursue a different more relaxed path. Don’t do anything in between.
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