When is TOO early to try for an internship?

So, I'm about to start my freshman year at a non-target east coast school. Planning on getting a 3.7+ as a finance major (def considering double major in accounting/econ), and don't tell me it's not possible because the school I'm going to is a little easy for my taste but I chose it for good reasons and am trying not to regret that decision.

This summer, I've been interning (unofficially) at a small boutique investment bank in Greenwich (where I live), and I'm starting another unofficial internship at Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management division in Stamford under one of the managing directors. Anyways, these "internships" consist of mostly busy work (obviously, I have no finance experience or knowledge yet).

This leads me to my question. The director at MS told me to apply for internships there after I complete my sophomore year to work as a summer intern (hopefully the predecessor to an analyst). I'm still rough around the edges when it comes to JOB differences as an analyst/associate at an IB, HF, or wealth management firm/division. It all leads me to ask, how early should I be scoping out for internships? (REAL, TANGIBLE, RÉSUMÉ WORTHY INTERNSHIPS).

3 Comments
 
Best Response

Pretty sure Morgan Stanley has sophomore specific summer analyst programs. Now resume worthy is pretty broad, as long as it isnt a boiler room/sketchy prop shop you can put it on your resume and not be worries. Other than structured programs at BB, start networking and cold emailing/calling and try and land something at a boutique, may not be paid but since they have less employees you could be a lot more involved depending on the place.

This is from a rising senior at a non target who wished he networked / cold contacted firms earlier instead of taking shit internships listed through my college.

 

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