Have I missed my chance to break into IB?

A bit of background, currently finishing the 2nd year of 3 of my bsc in finance at a target European university. I’m currently working at an average GPA, am well-engaged in student associations and run a small business.

Last summer I completed a Big4 m&a internship, which I thought would give me a good edge coming into recruiting for IB positions for summer 2023. Final stats for the year: 3 final rounds incl GS, 0 offers.

I have been offered the opportunity to return to the same internship as previous summer for this year, but I’m unsure if this will add any value to my CV. If my goal is to recruit for IB off-cycles or graduate roles after graduation, would returning to the same position as prior help me out at all- or am I better off investing my time in a solid GMAT score? I find myself in a very competitive environment where a lot of my classmates have secured top-tier finance and banking internships, and worry about falling behind.

To put it bluntly, does somebody with a profile like mine still have a chance to break into IB after finishing my BSc, or would I best do a master’s degree first to improve my chances.

Thanks in advance for any help or insight.

7 Comments
 

Big 4 M&A will still provide you lateral opportunities, especially since it’s related to banking. The name brand of a big 4 helps too.

I started my career in big 4 valuation (10ish months) before lateraling to an IB analyst role.

 

Perferendis repellat sit repellat. Rerum illum autem aperiam quas voluptate et.

Sint sunt accusantium placeat et. Itaque sequi consequatur officia alias. Dolorum ut sit rem quia aliquid. Omnis totam vel excepturi repudiandae.

Ducimus reprehenderit dignissimos amet ad. Ut tenetur nemo sint dolorum a mollitia. Et magnam perspiciatis exercitationem. Eius voluptas ut facere autem asperiores.

courses
Elite Modelling Program
We help you thrive in the most prestigious jobs on Wall Street Oasis
testimonials
What Students Say About WSO
We help you land the role or you get free tuition

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 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

October 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

October 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

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
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...”