D1 Varsity Athlete in College

How much does it help to be a varsity track athlete at a D1, top 10 UNSWR school when it comes to IBanking? I like the sport, so I'm not doing it for ib interviews, but how much will something like that help my resume?

Thanks

 
18-1:
Which sport is the most prestigious?

As far as sports that will help you get in generally, I would say Lacrosse on East Coast and Water Polo on West Coast.

Most prestigious though is probably something like Stanford Football or Duke Basketball (that is, nationally ranked, high-viewer sport teams at elite Universities).

“Millionaires don't use astrology, billionaires do”
 

I'll answer your question with a question: do you enjoy rowing? I mean the actual sport of it, not waking up at zero dark thirty to go row in what seems like freezing water while being yelled at by your coach after a night boozing it up at a pub, do you enjoy the sport? If yes, do it. If not, don't. sports require too much effort for you to be into it for any reason other than passion.

 

I've had insane health issues for the first 19 years off my life that evaporated only when I turned 20. Constant headaches, and 4-48 hour migraine attacks 3 or 4 days a week average. Despite this I managed to do national level sports, though I never qualified for the very top (european/WC). I have a chance at that with rowing, but I know that working out that hard, that often, will hurt my grades and make it so that I will not do much else but rowing. It's not rowing that puts a smile on my face, it's more that I long for the feeling of a victory with 500+ people cheering you on and that I want to take my athletics to the next level now that I am physically capable of doing so.

I will continue to train with the selection for the next 4 weeks and see if I can secure an offer. By then, assuming I get an offer, I will have a better idea of whether I enjoy rowing enough to drop everything else for it.

 

I'd say it's only marginally better than a being merely decent athlete. I know nothing about rowing, but a lacrosse player from UVA - a top program - isn't going to get a recruiting edge over someone from Dartmouth or another middle-of-the-pack program.

One of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over.
 

I'm also on a top crew team, however my school is a complete non-target. Being on a top 5 team is only helpful if you can get your resume looked at..

"That was then. This is now." - Dick Fuld
 

We aren't Ivy League but we are well known as one of the few good non-ivy teams that compete in the ivies' division, and we are a target (some would consider us a semi target). Our main competition is HYP

 

I have to agree with the people you've been talking to - an MBA could be very helpful here. A good GMAT, and you're pretty much set.

Every good investment bank has former college/pro athletes working there, and for reasons I don't need to explain here.

 

Of course it increases the status of your resume - but whether or not it is enough to overcome the GPA is another question which depends on a number of other factors, most importantly being the industry which you want break into. Was the school D1? Does it have a big fan base?

The smartest thing you could do at this point (as your grades cant be changed) is find out if either (i) your swim team or (ii) or sports teams have had anyone break into the industry you want to get into. Reach out to these people (mentioning you are currently an athlete at their alma mater) and ask to meet them. Networking is the most effective way around subpar grades.

 

If youre at an LAC then I assume its D3. D3 swimming isnt exactly "sexy" so it probably wont jump out to recruiters and suggest they ignore your gpa, but it could help you network as others mentioned.

 

Not to be a downer but definitely follow the networking advice- I know someone who is a starting player on the football team at a D1 non-target/semi-target (and huge football school) who has a GPA of 3.9.....he told me about an internship he didn't get because they gave it to an athlete of a similar calibre at a better school yet- while it's obviously possible to get the kind of job you want in your situation, there are candidates out there (granted, not many) who are in similar situations at schools that are more targeted for these jobs with much stronger grades. Just posting this to show you who you could be up against- it's good that you're trying to overcome your GPA issue, and good luck!

 

Find other athletes at the firms you want to go to, easy way to start networking. Try to find an alum from your team too, you'd be in like flint if you could.

I'm pretty sure playing football is better than having an internship. It helps a lot.

 

network with alumni. primarily athletes from your school and ideally those who played your sport.

you're after a summer spot, so if you act fast, you can get ahead of the game.

ask your coach/ad people for leads. with your GPA you are a very strong candidate, assuming we're not talking Kent State. If this is Mich/Wisc/etc, you'll be fine.

 

network with alumni. primarily athletes from your school and ideally those who played your sport.

you're after a summer spot, so if you act fast, you can get ahead of the game.

ask your coach/ad people for leads. with your GPA you are a very strong candidate, assuming we're not talking Kent State. If this is Mich/Wisc/etc, you'll be fine.

 

I know "athlete" is a vague concept in Europe since sports aren't organized the way they are organized in the US, but does anyone know if recruiters in Europe look more favorably at people who are involved in organized sports?

 

Being even a D-3 varsity athlete helps. I know it helped me land my consulting and PE gigs.

Along the way, you no doubt will run into some senior guy who played your sport, and you can spend the interview reminiscing and bonding.

 

It is a strong talking point that can display confidence in interviews, a quality that that you seem to possess. You may want to focus on breaking into something sales related, if that interests you. I am also working with a lower GPA, in the same range as yours, but I felt that my ability to talk and demonstrate my work ethic (talking about consistent employment throughout high school and college) really helped earn my internship for this summer.

Your athletic commitments will truly pay off though if you network through your team. Talk to your coaches and try to reach out to team alumni that work on the street. Ask them about how they broke into their careers and if they can offer any advice. A bunch of my friends play on the lacrosse team at my school, and they have a ton of guys that land great jobs through alumni networking each year.

 

Team sports develop skills that are very useful in finance, so athletics are definitely a plus. That being said, being on the football team with a 3.1 doesn't equal a 4.0 with no athletics. You are going to need a very solid narrative about why you are "accomplished".

The first thing that popped out for me brought up a red flag - you joined the track team even though your GPA is 3.1. Doesn't it make sense to use that extra time studying to bring your grades up? That move signals a lack of judgment. (Sorry to be so blunt - just trying to help.)

Also, don't think that just because you don't think you meet some threshold of intelligence that you perceive in others that you can't get the same grades as them. I've known downright stupid people who have graduated with a 4.0 just because they ate, slept, and breathed their coursework for four years.

There are many different paths people can take - check out this guy who graduated with a civil engineering degree (the "loser" engineering degree), worked as an engineer for a year, became a minor league pitcher, went back to engineering for a year, got an MBA, switched to a corporate analyst role for a year, then went to a MM boutique IB. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-dalton/4/35/145

Good luck.

 

OP Did you go to school in the Big Ten? I'm just wondering because I did and I got an IB job at a MM without D1 athletics.

I am thinking you should leverage your strength and try to build relationships with other D1 football players in the industry. Pound the pavement and setup informational interviews with former players who will meet with you to talk. Living in close proximity to NYC is very helpful.

 

OP - here's the question... where you playing at an FCS School or an FBS School. That is a huge issue. If you played FBS, I wouldn't sweat it. If you played FCS, I would network with your school's alumni that are on Wall Street. You'll have a better shot at breaking in like that then relying on your D1 Sports background alone. Yes, D1 Sports are great and you can spin it fantastically, but part of the draw - especially with football - is brand recognition and that FBS/FCS issue is a big one.

 

Thanks for the responses, everything you guys have said is very helpful.

808- I joined the track team because it was fun! I agree with you 100%, grades are always first and foremost. Although I have a long career in front of me but in reality, how may more opportunities will I have to compete at that level again? We only live once!

  • Although I believe that this is a highly demanding industry to get involved with, it seems as though some people get a little too caught up in their interviewing, school ranking, test scores, etc. In my opinion, it is important to step back and take a deep breath sometimes and I think people eager to break into this industry can become a little too obsessive. Don't get me wrong, an early start is the perfect way to go about such a process, but when I see a college freshman coming on here and stressing out about a GMAT test he won't take for three years, I become a little concerned. Relax, live a little. Go pick up a girl, do something bad- get your heart pumping. Like i said before, we only live once. When I wake up one day down the road, I could only hope that I have had as much success as I have had fun too- and I think I'm headed in the right direction.

The subject of the whole FCS/FBS is a very interesting one. While I do not play in the Big Ten, I have played several schools in the big ten. You are very right, I think a school's brand recognition is highly valuable in terms of recruitment and respect in general for that matter.

 

If you join a frat, make it one with a strong network. If you do a sport, it probably won't matter good or bad to the interviewer unless you do some kind of odd sport which he also did in college (like Hai Lai or Water Polo).

Find your local investment club and see if you can contribute there. President of any investment interest club is probably one of the best ECs to have.

 

Thanks for the input albatrosslee, I'm already involved in the equivalent of an investment interest club at my school (not the President =/ but an officer nonetheless). The frat I was looking at was one of the top 5 largest I believe.

When it comes down to it, as I mentioned earlier, is the most efficient use of my time. I would have to put a lot of time into either one of the above 2 mentioned EC's, so I just want to know if they are worth it, OR whether I should just forget about those EC's and just get another internship during the school year.

Keep in mind, I am a rising junior so this upcoming interview season is crucial.

 

I think school ECs tend to add very little to a resume. Everyone has done "something" and they are all pretty much equivalent whether you played intramurals or were in student government. I also do not suggest joining a frat unless you -really- want to.

I think the only way to truly stand out is to go way above and beyond. If you weren't the one who actually started the soccer league, I don't think it adds much that you were a part of it. If you aren't up for the task of starting anew, being an officer is the next best thing. Whatever you do, don't do nothing.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

I'm really surprised by that...it's not a "school" EC. It's not a high school paper -- it's a fully-independent college paper. I would have figured that it would show that one could work hard (like I said, at least 40 hours a week out of school hours), leadership skills, writing skills (this post notwithstanding), and organizational skills. It's not like playing intramural hockey 12 hours a week or being a secretary in student government...I'm offended that you would lump it in with those, but if that's how IBs see it, then I guess there's nothing I can do. Any other opinions?

 

If you're spending 40 hours a week doing something meaningful besides school work, it's definitely going to help you in interviews. First, it will give you something to talk about during the interview, and second, and more importantly, banks like to see that people have a lot of extra time commitments in addition to your schoolwork. You can use it to discuss time management etc.

 

Frats are a great tool.

I joined one with a large national alumni base (top 3 or so #'s wise in the country) but it was also small enough locally to allow me to hold several exec positions.

Any position will help, but try for a treasurer/vp finance role, or a pres/vp pos.

If utilized properly, frats can be a great resume builder.

 

Sorry to shatter your dreams, but with 3.6 non target and this ridiculous list of potential ECs to add to your CV and probably no IB internship you do not even have the slightest chance to make it to an IB interview (not to even mention an offer). Much easier for you to accept that and find your passion elsewhere.

 

Fraternity experiences are awesome if you are a leader in it (social chair, VP, President).

Fraternities aren't that they used to be - a national fraternity base doesn't matter very much (unlike several decades ago). Don't join a frat based on alumni network. Do it based on having a fun time and meeting new people.

I think everyone would agree that holding a leadership in a fraternity displays strong social skills, leadership abilities, and the ability to be well-liked. However, there are many other ways to do this.

 

Hihi, funny how my post gets ignored. You are all so busy with your next step that you don't see that the way leads to nowhere. To land in IB you basically need ivy 3.6+, IB internship and at least one other flashy, glittering thing (that's the same at McK where I initially come from). I didn't want to be rude, but your trying is really a waste of time. But of course good luck

 

TomTom, I agree with you, I don't want this kid to go through pledging just to get into IB lol...and it sounds like he might actually.

But yeah, in reality, for a good shot you need to be at one of the following schools: Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, Duke, Chicago, Northwestern and a few others...even then, you'd need a solid GPA above or around ~3.7, relevant interships, leadership experience.

From a state school, I would strongly suggest looking at smaller financial firms to get a somewhat relevant internship (Private Wealth Management or so) and then working your way up. It is a tough road either way.

 

FYI, although I appreciate the help and comments, I do have IB internship experience. I interned at a boutique IB bank last year. From the few friends at my school that have made it into IB and from this forum, I am already well aware of the difficulty and perhaps impossibility (for the remainder of my undergrad at least) of getting in.

With that said, it doesn't mean I'm going to give up. I just want to do everything possible to help boost my chances. I figured EC's are a must, so I'm trying to decide between doing sports, frat, or getting another finance related internship. And by no means do I think that either of these alone are my ticket in.

 

Accusantium quam fuga autem aut dolorem harum. Distinctio ipsum non quo ut praesentium iste. Corporis qui praesentium non vitae. Cupiditate eos ut sequi assumenda occaecati aspernatur autem deleniti. At ut qui doloremque tempora quia officia cupiditate. Fugiat quia quam expedita error.

Est repudiandae mollitia id autem inventore corrupti. Minus rerum rem cumque velit facere velit beatae commodi.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Est voluptate et eos necessitatibus fugit. Sed velit saepe doloremque ut commodi repellendus quis doloribus. Aut doloremque dolor aut necessitatibus deserunt sunt cum voluptatem. Est quaerat temporibus perferendis sit. Ut voluptatum aliquid eveniet voluptatem rerum.

Alias libero consequatur quisquam non ipsum. Eum aut at molestias aut. Saepe esse asperiores labore aut modi quo. Explicabo dolor atque rerum aperiam aut exercitationem. Possimus quae aut est aliquam itaque.

Banking > VC > Tech PE; PM me if you would like any advice I'm happy to help
 

Consequatur ex non non corrupti. Nihil facilis error qui modi. Autem quia sint delectus. Consequatur voluptatem est iusto ut perspiciatis illo impedit.

Consequatur odio cum facilis quisquam unde. Aut sed magni velit laborum eum in. Debitis dolores alias reprehenderit dolorem aspernatur est error. Quia voluptates adipisci sed asperiores sed minus. Cupiditate impedit natus quia dolores nesciunt. Iste dignissimos autem at.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”