Community College Student Advice ?

Hi, I am on my second to last semester until graduation , I graduate at the end of this year in the fall and my goal is to get into Investment banking or Management Consulting because I heard they get to travel a lot which I want to do, But for the most part I am more interested and leaning towards investing banking. I currently have a 2.8 gpa which I am not proud of and is currently working on to improve it because I am getting very close to graduating and is concerned about getting into a target school to increase my chances of getting into a bulge bracket firm since the top companies only recruit from the top schools. I currently reside in nyc. Any advice?

 

I’m not sure I’m following, you are at a community college and trying to get into a target school? What degree are you graduating with?

Not to be mean, but if this is serious, a 2.8 from a community college is going to be a huge issue. Getting into investment banking, while never “impossible”, will be about as close to impossible with that background. 

 
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The fact that you reside in NYC is your only advantage in this whole story because of your ease to meet with bankers, so try to reach out and network with as many people as you can. Master the technicals, be charismatic and show genuine interest in what they do. Nail all of those and your contact may be willing to take a chance on you. Skip the big banks and focus instead on smaller shops to get your first relevant work experience. After 1-2 years you may consider lateralling.

 Investment banking or Management Consulting because I heard they get to travel a lot which I want to do

In IB there isn't much travel besides your desk and data room, and all the consultants that I know hate traveling. Read some guides on IB and consulting to get a better understanding of their work and try to see if you'll enjoy the actual tasks that you'll be doing. You could end up hating your career choice if you have unrealistic or romanticized expectations about it.

 

Why do you have a 2.8 GPA in community college? i went the CC route as well and am at a top bank in NYC. the 2.8 is a massive issue. you need to go to a school where your GPA won't transfer over (i did this), knock it out of the park there, and then delay your graduation a year or get your MSF since you will be far behind from a recruiting standpoint. You also need to figure out why you actually want to do MBB or IB. Wanting to travel is not good enough. sounds like you are attracted to the payday (it's ok, we all were at one point) and bankers will see right through this. 

 

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