DEI candidate rejected from top BB - Really Surprised

Just got my rejection emails from a top tier BB (think GS/JPM/TD) for their internship program, and I’m honestly pretty shocked. I graduated with top grades in sociology, have a strong DEI background, and thought I had a good shot, especially given all the emphasis these firms put on diversity and inclusion.

I’ve been really involved in DEI initiatives on campus, led a few projects, and even interned with a nonprofit focused on equity. I thought that, combined with my academic record, would make me a competitive candidate. But I guess I was wrong.

I’m starting to wonder if all this talk about DEI in finance is more about optics than actual opportunity. Not sure what else I could’ve done differently, but it’s frustrating to feel like I had everything they said they were looking for and still didn’t make the cut.

Anyone else in the same boat? Just trying to figure out what might have gone wrong.

9 Comments
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Quis rerum dolorem consequatur quas explicabo in non. Explicabo vel quasi numquam eius ut. Reprehenderit labore voluptatem ut est. Veniam ducimus nostrum ducimus vel natus nihil et. Ut omnis aut id temporibus non. Quibusdam voluptatem tenetur qui quibusdam omnis fuga alias.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”