Impacts of delayed graduation?

I go to a target school and I’m interested in MBB/IB/ Sales and trading at a top firm. I transferred to the target school second semester sophomore year and initially recruited for investment banking. However, after speaking with my academic advisor, I realize that not enough of my credit transferred from my previous institution to graduate on time and that, since I took 1st semester of sophomore year off due to a surgery, I had fewer credits then I thought . Thus I have to take classes for an extra semester and thus was no longer eligible for thiscycle’s application, and withdrew some of my banking applications (many though didn’t allow withdrawals) and didn’t apply for consulting. Two questions:

  1. On my resume, the dates will clearly show that I took a semester off in between my new school and my former one. However, if someone overlooks it (which is likely to happen) and thinks I needed to take an extra semester to graduate, will that hurt my chances for IB/ consulting? Will this especially hurt given I took a gap year in between highschool and college (but had a very prestigious internship then)?
  2. Will it matter for banking for the firms that I couldn’t withdraw that I applied to twice? Will they wonder what’s going on and be suspicious that I’m reapplying (thinking that I’m doing so cuz I was rejected) and that lead them to rejected me?
  3. TLDR, is my situation ok and does this delay in applying meaningfuly hurt my chances at MBB/ IB?

For remaining context, I’m a white male, I have a strong resume, am a good networker and have some family connections, and have a 3.9 at my old school but got a 3.5 this semester at my new one— I should get it up to 3.7 by the time of applying though.

9 Comments
 

I began college in fall 2023, but took fall 2024 off due to a surgery. So I did 1.5 years in 2 years… so I guess either a sophomore or rising junior. Overall, what are ur thoughts regarding my situation?

 

changes a lot depending on what you are , if you are a rising junior network like crazy with boutiques or banks that have not yet closed apps , if you are going to be a sophomore network and try to land an internship for 27.

 

They don’t make decisions on which cycle you should apply for based on your class. They make it based off of when your graduation is, and I graduate December 2027– meaning I’m a rising Junior who will be applying with sophomores and I’m thus still very early for networking. Overall, do you think it appearing as though I was in college for 4.5 years (even though I wasn’t in my resume shows I wasn’t) will hurt me much?

 

Gotcha, overall though do you think given my situation (particularly it appearing as though I was in college for 4.5 years, even though I wasn't which my resume shows) will hurt me much?

 

I’m not a recruiter I’m not sure , but you can apply for internships with a year more of experience so you should be able to get something, just network hard. Adventis eyes peeled for every opening .

 

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