Getting back into the game after a bad start?

Longtime lurker here, currently a sophomore at NYU. Had some recurring family/health/other issues which are finally over now thank god. Now I need to get back on track, become relevant, and get back into the game. Been reading many of WSO's success stories and I'm super motivated!

Current stats (for your reference) are pretty bad and well below my own expectations, majoring in Accounting (CPA) and Finance, 3 semesters down and around 2.5 GPA, no outstanding extracurriculars, no clubs, not currently reading any books and barely following news so no info or knowledge. The only thing going for me is an internship 2013 summer at MBB consulting, but that was through family connections and overseas and not from my own effort.

I can easily turn things around now I'm free from past problems. First about the GPA, was really just silly mistakes from me such as not going to class, doing the readings, or handing in big assignments. I failed 0 credit classes and got D's in BS classes like "Historical Studies of Communism" and the like... Fortunately I have solid grades in my core classes. GPA I can and will fix by myself but the damage has already been done. Best case scenario can boost up to 3.2+ by graduation.

For everything else, I have a boatload of questions.
Am I already screwed for life if I want to get into a major bank? Honestly I believe that with enough persistence anything is possible, but would like to hear some different opinions.
Can I sell a "story"?
Apparently networking softens the resume review process. How does this work? Where to start? (before I start cold calling Bank of America customer service haha)
How important are leadership positions in business clubs?
Any other extracurriculars to think about? Maybe even odd jobs or something creative
Books to read? Newspapers to follow?
Anything else?

I really want to break into IB and live that work hard play hard lifestyle but have no idea how to start and I'm already a sophomore. Also considering accounting as a backup but you guys seem to laugh at accountants...

List of my (rather unimpressive) current interests: working out, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, cooking, piano, poker, history, military history.

Any advice, stories/anecdotes, whatever is appreciated. Just trying to get back in the game before its too late. Thanks in advance guys!

6 Comments
 
Best Response

You're majoring in Acct/Fin with a 2.5 GPA, you need to first determine if this is what you want to actually do. The next step you should do is meet with counselors to determine exactly how to improve your GPA, even if that means taking less classes so you can focus more. I can't really see how anything else is of much importance, when you have the ability to improve your GPA (ie. you're not already graduated with a low gpa) I feel that you be your main focus IMO.

 
jbone24

You're majoring in Acct/Fin with a 2.5 GPA, you need to first determine if this is what you want to actually do. The next step you should do is meet with counselors to determine exactly how to improve your GPA, even if that means taking less classes so you can focus more. I can't really see how anything else is of much importance, when you have the ability to improve your GPA (ie. you're not already graduated with a low gpa) I feel that you be your main focus IMO.

Thanks, you are right. I think I had my priorities wrong.

 

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"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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