Internship options for a high GPA, non business guy?

I have been considering pursuing a consulting or investment banking internship for the summer '11 (I will be in teach for america next year, and I am trying to figure out something to do over the break). However, I have no internship experience or coursework related to finance or business, so I am wondering how to break into this field.

Rough outline of credentials:

U chicago 3.9 GPA in history, highest honors, phi beta kappa, etc
Teach for America Corps member
Research assistant experience with a political science professor
Student publications editor
Dorm resident advisor

Apparently top consulting and banking firms recruit interns from TFA, so how do you present myself in a cover letter/interview? I have only taken one econ related class (though I read WSJ and economist regularly), and my quantitative background is really light (had a 5 on calc AP, so only took 1 math class in college). What do I need to do make myself marketable despite these obvious deficiencies?

Cheers, and thanks for any advice.

 
Best Response

You need to join so business clubs and take more business classes to show that you are really serious about finance. You don't need to know all the technicals, but if you dont have business classes under your belt/take them later it makes you look like you picked IB on a whim. I suggest taking the Training the Street course. You dont need quant as much as just general business knowledge like how to value a company, what happens to accounting statements,

I suggests purchasing their breaking into wall street interview guide. It's $97, but is a great resource. Especially for someone like you who does not have classes to teach them some of the more complicated ideas

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

Dolorem sed est vero ut error nesciunt. Eligendi molestiae qui nesciunt consequatur. Quis pariatur magni ut vel.

Libero quia qui suscipit ratione. In aut incidunt esse qui magni est. Iure qui beatae maxime. Sunt ut quo quis in. Esse et eius vel voluptas ex sit sit.

Rem et et voluptas aliquam placeat nemo. Labore quia et rem qui vero voluptatem quia. Voluptatem omnis architecto ipsa possimus delectus officiis. Sequi asperiores maxime omnis. Quis commodi cupiditate accusantium aut at.

Id accusantium ut provident vel. Et eius reiciendis voluptate facilis voluptatibus quibusdam suscipit. Libero qui vel enim alias. Non tempore ut magnam itaque.

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
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”