Hi,
I'm not going to provide cliffs but it would be greatly appreciated if you could read through my post and give it to me straight.
I'm a rising senior at a small northeastern liberal arts school. My GPA is not where I want it to be because I did awful my freshman year. I really want an i-banking entry-level analyst position at a BB but my GPA is drastically holding me back since I'm not coming from a target.
GPA:
3.05 cum, 3.45 post-freshman year (Economics major)
My internships are:
- summer analyst at a Philadelphia-based I-bank ($50m+ revenue, 300-999 employees)
- intern at a decently big P/E firm in Argentina
- analyst at small real estate firm
- worked in financial office of the International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers
ECs are decent, in several economics and investment clubs, studied abroad, have traveled extensively and have done service work in western Africa, Southeastern Asia, etc.
Since recruiting starts before senior year, I was considering not applying anywhere, try to get a 3.9 or 4.0 senior year and waiting a full year so that employers will see my senior year grades which will now be incorporated in my cumulated GPA. Then maybe taking that "gap year" (if you will) and either studying for the GMAT, CFA exam, or interning. I really don't know.
What are my options? What would you do in my position?
Thank you
You can break into IB with your GPA if you execute well in other areas.
such as?
Use the search function - plenty of topics discussing it. You have good internship experience, which helps, and it would make you an even stronger applicant if you go to a strong liberal arts school (eg Swarthmore, Amherst, Williams etc).
Easiest way in for someone with a sub-par GPA is strong networking.
Thanks for your response and sorry for the double post. I understand the components of a CV. My question is asking whether or not I should wait a year to apply to undoubtably get better offers
You should still apply. One of my friends got into ML with a 3.1 GPA. or at least apply for summer internships and try to secure a FT after the internship. Having a gap year on your resume is dangerous
Bump. I don't go to Amherst lol. Think Gettysburg, F&M, Bucknell
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