Urgent Question on SA Application Strategy
Hey Everyone,
I'm a rising sophomore at a non-target/semi-target and applied for Citi's sophomore summer IB internship. I really, really, want this opportunity and know I need to network my butt off in order to get it.
Problem is - after looking through LinkedIn, I found only one alumnus from my school working in Citi's banking division and they told me they can't help me with the recruiting process since they're currently staffed at an international office. Additionally, I'm getting emails reminding me to finish my application and am worried that the longer I wait to try to find more alumni, the lower my chances will be since (I'm guessing) the process is rolling.
Here's my background: female, 4.0 GPA, 35 ACT, family PE internship this summer, econ. related internship last summer, one diversity event at an EB, accepted to Citi's Freshman Virtual Series
Here are the options I'm considering:
- Submit my application without networking with alumni beforehand.
Doing this really messed me up when I applied for UBS's sophomore program (got rejected the day I applied, lol), but at this point maybe I should do it. The reason why I'm also considering this is that I got accepted into Citi's Freshman Virtual Series, so perhaps that will help. I've also applied for one of Citi's diversity events and while I got rejected, perhaps my application is enough to show that I am really interested in the firm?
- Email the alumnus who is overseas and ask him if he knows anyone in the NY office that would be willing to speak with me.
I'm just worried that this might come off as kind of rude, but this is the option that I would prefer if it isn't too pushy.
- Wait to talk with my alumnus (sometime in the next 2 weeks) and ask him for a referral for someone in the NY office.
I'm just worried about the timing - will this take too long? Worst-case scenario, I get on the phone with my alumnus two weeks from now and have to wait another 2 weeks to call someone from Citi's NY office.
Any advice is appreciated!
mn22, bummer your thread hasn't had a response yet. Maybe one of these threads could point you in the right direction:
If those topics were completely useless, don't blame me, blame my programmers...
Cold email non-alums in NYC. Look on the forum for email suggestions, but fire off a bunch and you should get some people willing to help. I wouldn't keep bothering the alum, if they could help they would offer. Maybe check in next year if they have moved to a US office.
Unless something has changed recently, UBS sophomore program is only for ethnic diversity and doesn't include female as diversity. If you checked white on that box, that's why you got auto-rejected.
Your application is very competitive with experience and a 4.0, but the odds are really low even with a great network. There are IB spots total and most of them go to target school candidates. Start networking now but don't put all your eggs into a sophomore internship. Junior SA is most important and more attainable.
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