Not sure what to do this summer

Currently in a tough situation with regards to how I should spend this summer as someone going for a 2021 SA role. I have yet to go through an interview guide and was planning to use the rest of May to do this as well as network as much as possible. Once May is over, I have several options for June-August and wanted to get some opinions.

Option 1: Remote Bus. Dev. internship at a small unknown firm, 35-40 hrs/wk so no time for IB prep

Option 2: Summer online classes or research, 10-20 hrs/wk so decent amount of time for IB prep

Option 3: Nothing besides IB Prep for the rest of the summer

I am assuming that firms won't hold it against me if I don't do anything this summer (correct me if I'm wrong) so that's why I'm considering allocating all of my time towards prep/networking. I'm also not at all prepared for interviews at this point, so I could use the extra time. The one thing that makes me want to go with Option 1 is that I don't have any finance/business exp. on my resume -- all I have are student orgs and clubs on campus. Was thinking that the bus. dev. summer internship could possibly help my resume (?).

Please let me know what you think I should do. Appreciate any thoughts/insight.

15 Comments
 

You got this. It is all about work ethic and time management. I do not want to brag or pump my own tire, but I studied for technicals, networked and took my SIE while taking 15 credit hours and working 30 hours a week and I still went out to drink at least twice a week. If IB is really what you want, you need that drive and commitment to get you there and you can definitely doing it by working 40hrs a week.

 

Seriously? I interned 35 hours a week, took 18 units, and still found time to network and prepare for IB interviews.

 

go with option 2 IMO, a no-name firm is not going to make your resume better unless it is boutique IB

 

Dicta sunt quo ut id natus dolor consectetur. Autem repellendus a ducimus minima omnis. Pariatur est mollitia in tempora minima in cum. Est est nulla ut id.

Repudiandae unde repellat rerum dolores beatae deleniti. Ullam eum voluptatem pariatur enim inventore voluptate. Ipsa molestiae unde esse recusandae architecto nesciunt ipsam. Ad placeat ea facilis dolore corrupti aut facere eos.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”