How To Get Into IB From Kelley
Hi, I wanted to make a how-to thread on how to get an investment banking job for Kelley students. This questions appears on this forum at least twice a week, so I think this post would answer some questions.
So the easiest way to get into ib from Kelley is the IBW. You will need around a 3.9 gpa to get in. It is a very competitive process, but very rewarding. You can get in by getting a 3.9 gpa, good extracurriculars, and networking with other IBW kids.
The 2nd easiest way to get an ib job out of Kelley is the Capital Markets and Banking Workshop (CMBW). You will need a 3.7-3.8 gpa to get in. It's also a bit competitive, but also very rewarding. There are current members who are interning at Houlihan Lokey, Baird, etc. Although, half of these will be Cap markets and half will be IBD placements.
The 3rd easiest way is the Real Estate Workshop. This is less competitive than the other two (you need a 3.5-3.7 to get in). 1/3 of these placements are REIB, while another 1/3 will be for REPE. This workshop is great if you are interested in real estate, but if you strictly want IB, focus on the first two workshops.
If you do not get into any workshops, you are not doomed. You will still be competitive for MM banks and boutique banks in Chicago as long as you have a 3.6+. There are also PE/HF firms in Chicago (and other midwest) that recruit at IU and respect the brand. I will say, however, that there is a big drop-off in recruiting if you are not in the workshops. Top banks like GS, MS, and JP will only recruit from the workshops. With that being said, if you have a good gpa and network a bit, you will have a good chance at a FT IB job.
I think the talk about Kelley on this site is way too polarizing and it confuses prospective students. There's people who will say it's basically an Ivy and others will say it's a complete non-target. Please don't listen to these people. To conclude, IU Kelley is a great school/program for finance. There are many opportunities at IU Kelley for you to succeed and get a great job (IB or not). Just work hard, be involved, and network!
Good luck!
