Recent Graduate Guidance

Hello WSO community,

I have been lurking in the shadows for a few months now and need some guidance for my next step in getting into the industry.

I graduated in 2017 with my BBA in Economics from UofA Little Rock with a 3.7/4.0 I did not do any internships during my time in class, I went to school year around graduating with four degrees (three associates and one bachelors) while working for a law firm that I still currently work for. I got a few hits from applying for internships now, emails back but all have gone dead. I am thinking about getting my MBA both for my own personal reason (I am the first of my immediate family to graduate college) and to open up doors for investment banking or buy side. I was raised by a single mother, guidance and direction for me and my career has been very difficult and stressful that is why I am asking the community.

What are you're thoughts on my position, what would you do/recommend?

Thank you all in advance

4 Comments
 

Hi [email protected], no, I never sleep and so I can respond to any lonely threads (like this one) at all hours of the night. Impressive, I know ;-)

  • Recent graduate trying to get his first job in real estate- Advice? Hey guys, I am a December 2016 graduate from a SEC school. I completed a double major in ... estate finance. This led to my decision to pursue a career in real estate. I want to eventually end up in ... development. As I stated earlier, graduated with a double major in accounting and finance. My GPA is right at ...
  • 1st Yr Associate IS- no UG degree- need advice on possible career change & school me and its at this point I got serious about an alternative career path (age 26). I never graduated ... specialize in STNL & Multi-Tenant retail and had recently broken off from a top national brokerage. They ... more modeling, underwriting, deal structuring, etc I took the job, thinking I could get back in school ...
  • From 2 GPA, to Bulge Bracket and Hedge Fund 1st 2 years in college: from GPA IB porter My first year almost killed my career: I become obsessed ... back then). By the time I am graduated, I still perceive this as my interests, but not career option... ... a small company, I receive a piece of advise from my relatives that "it is the best to find a job ...
  • 1st year FLDP- thinking about quitting the program. Help please. about myself: I graduated from a non-target university with a average GPA with a degree in Finance. Like ... my job so much. I hate living in the middle of no where and not have any friends. I think the job ... because i wanted other to believe that I am a high achiever in whatever i do. Beginning of my senior year, ...
  • AMA: Reflections on 1st Semester at Columbia Business School So just for Morgan Stanley, there were ~80 1st round interview spots for Columbia Students across ... For example, for 1st round interview slots, Eaton Vance has 13 slots. Also, whereas Goldman Sachs will ... I recently completed my first semester at Columbia Business School and wanted to share my ...
  • How to explain a 2 year employment gap between college graduation and 1st job bc of illness? So I graduated from college (UC Berkeley) in 2010. I was unemployed for two years because I was ... solid career progression and several promotions. I recently submitted my profile for review, and you ... anything, and spent most of my time lying down in bed. I got a good job after 2 years and resumed my heavy ...
  • New user, advice/tips/mentors very welcomed and appreciated! welcome).:) career advice help hedge accountant to IB graduating ... should I proceed? I really need a plan. The thing that drew me to accounting in the first place was job ... I have seen people drop great deals of information helping people that need advice. Today, I finally come ...
  • More suggestions...

No promises, but maybe one of our professional members will share their wisdom: Victoria-Jingyee @Jct2139" @tk2417"

Hope that helps.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

I'm a student myself, but my advice is to keep grinding, and that you're really not in that terrible of a spot. Relevant degree, excellent GPA, solid, professional work experience

 

Possimus voluptatem nihil doloremque. Omnis facere eum dolore voluptas atque. Ut consequatur non similique. Non saepe illo et. Et eligendi in accusantium ut odit qui.

Aspernatur laborum vitae qui laboriosam ut. Nihil assumenda sunt est necessitatibus molestias aut. Natus mollitia ullam nesciunt aut aliquid. Omnis dicta aut voluptate quaerat et facilis.

Array

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.6%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.0%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.6%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (77) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (70) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”