Which is more competitive? Summer vs. Off-cycle Internships

With the next recruitment cycle coming up, I have been proactive this year in my preparation. I didn't manage to secure a summer internship in 2020 as a penultimate year student and this year I'm deciding between:

A) Applying for summer internships in 2021 - whilst also applying to top masters programmes - so that I can claim I will be expecting to graduate in 2022.

B) Apply for off-cycle internships - whilst also still applying to top masters programmes that I will defer for a year or reject if I manage to get a decent off-cycle internship offer.

My question is, which option is going to increase my chances of getting a good internship for 2021? Are off-cycles less competitive to get into than normal summer internships (I read there are less spaces available in off-cycles - but there are also much less people applying?)?

Appreciate any thoughts.

 

I would go with applying for 2021 summers. By far easier to get. There tend to be a similar proportion of spots , and they also tend to have higher conversion rates than off cycles. You also tend to have more experienced candidates going for off cycles (those who have already completed a masters in finance or have relevant work experience such as previous internships).

 

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