How to Get Into Investment Banking?

Hey guys, I just have a few questions about my end goal of breaking into IB.

  1. If my end goal is breaking into IB, should I go to a target school or a non target school? What are some good target schools?

  2. Do I need a good GPA? Am I allowed to round my 3.2 to a 3.3 to a 3.4 to a 3.5 and then since its halfway to a 4.0, I can put 4.0 with honors?

  3. What are some good internships that would best position me for my end goal of breaking into IB? Should I do an internship in investment banking?

  4. Can you guys critique my cold email?

"Hey, my end goal is breaking into IB, I would love to get coffee with you and set up an internship at your firm."

  1. What are some good clubs to best position me to get a job if my end goal is IB? Should I join the IB club at school?

  2. Hey guys, what's the GPA cutoff for breaking into IB? Since my GPA is 3.69, should I just give up?

  3. Can you guys post the HireVue questions?

  4. What should I major in if my end goal is breaking into IB? Should I choose finance, or maybe feminist philosophy?

  5. Can all of you guys posting threads please use the search bar?

6 Comments
 

you should go to a non-target school to get into IB. all the firms are starting to think the target schools are too entitled, so your chances will be much greater at a state school, ideally in a flyover state. you want to be perceived as an underdog, so some firm will (hopefully) find it in their heart to toss you a bone.

 
"theaccountingmajor" "Hey, my end goal is breaking into IB, I would love to get coffee with you and set up an internship at your firm."

LOL. I seriously can't tell if some people on this forum are kidding when they suggest others to ask people on LinkedIn for a "coffee date" to discuss their career interests.

Array
 

Facilis tenetur aspernatur blanditiis qui mollitia molestiae doloribus. Ea aut consequatur qui quibusdam ut et non. Sed quod dolore est numquam tenetur voluptas vel. Facilis rem consequuntur quae.

Quo aut iusto at maxime unde veritatis. Minima veniam incidunt laboriosam consequatur nobis. Velit voluptas temporibus aut enim.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • 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 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”