Current Sophomore, 3.2 GPA, Started Networking for next year, Now what? Do I still stand a chance?

So a little about myself...

I attend the University of Notre Dame and recently became interested in banking. I know the biggest disadvantage I'll ever be affected by is my low GPA. It fell significantly last semester and I've been trying to pull it up since, but even then I doubt it'll reach a 3.4 by the time I start applying for i-banking internships next year. I've been trying my best to get involved with an M&A and IPO project with two BBs through our business club here so that I can have some experience. I'll also have an international business internship in China this summer, though it's not related to banking.

I know the only way to make up for my huge weakness at this point is to network like crazy, but I'm not sure how to go about this anymore and whether I'll still stand a chance at becoming a banker.

So far I've contacted about 25 alumni from my school and have gotten a chance to talk to all of them about banking and how I should approach my internship search. However, I don't know what the next step should be. Although I'll continue calling up into the next recruiting season, I'm still not sure what else I can do and how I can turn those into opportunities for me.

ND is not a target school but we do have recruiters. The problem is the cut off is at 3.5 and I've never heard of any exceptions for our resume drops in order to get interviews. A career counselor told me that it was impossible for anyone with my GPA.

Soooo...my question is...do I still have a shot? I'm not sure what to do anymore.

 

What's your major?

Post up your resume, btw.

- Bulls make money. Bears make money. Pigs get slaughtered. - The harder you work, the luckier you become. - I believe in the "Golden Rule": the man with the gold rules.
 

Impossible don't believe that, almost anything is possible if you want it go get it

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 

Don't listen to someone telling you that your goals are impossible. Be tenacious and you'll persevere. Your GPA is not terrible nor is your university. With networking and persistance you should be able to achieve a job in i-banking.

 

Thanks a lot for the support everyone. I guess I'm just extremely worried because my grades aren't good and I don't think I can get it up much higher. I'm currently an accounting major and I want to switch into Finance which I think I'd do better in GPA-wise but the major's full so I can't get in. Would it be a good idea to cold call recruiters at banks that don't recruit at my school next year?

 
Best Response
geerawr:
the cut off is at 3.5 and I've never heard of any exceptions for our resume drops......A career counselor told me that it was impossible for anyone with my GPA.
And this is why career services / HR are worthless. They only want to represent people that don't need any help, which by the way IS THE STATED FUCKING FUNCTION OF THEIR JOB. Seriously, if you are a retard who works in HR / career services, just kill yourself....and by this statement I mean no offence to actual retarded people.

Back to the question at hand: post your resume and let the guys here rearrange things. DO try to up your GPA by graduation, as it will help. Network, network, network, and network: this is a sales industry and if you go to ND and can't find a way in regardless of GPA and major then you don't belong in this industry.

Good luck.

Get busy living
 

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