Can I get into IB with a shit GPA?

Wondering about this. I’m a senior in undergrad with a 2.8. I have some journalism experience as well as a consulting internship. I have been interviewing for jobs in equity research at various firms and my GPA has never come up once. 

I had a terrible freshman year and ended sophomore year with a 1.5. Was suspended from the school and had to claw my way back. I have had mostly all As my senior year so far. 
 

I figured if I can get interviews at middle market and boutique firms for ER I might be able to do so for IB, but I feel like GPA is much more important in IB than ER so I haven’t bothered applying or networking. 
 

Anyone in IB have any thoughts on this? 
 


 

9 Comments
 

a person at my bank had a sub 3 so it’s possible..they also are not a diversity hire

 
Most Helpful

Almost mirroring your experience, my GPA was similar/lower to yours and I too had a suspension. Hustled super hard and I’m currently at a top BB / EB. It is very difficult to overcome but if you are determined and know your techs/story inside out anything’s possible. Although I will say that I was super hungry and don’t think most people would go to the lengths I did to break in.

 

Agreed on the ER point, probably easier to break into something else and then lateral to banking. It is very very difficult to land a job, more so if you didn’t go to a taget school or are non-diversify. Most banks would just cut you off at that GPA, it’s more of a check box than anything - if they are get 100 applicants, might as well cut them in half by including a GPA cutoff.

 

Dolorem consequuntur dolores ex magni. Vel illo animi non eos dicta sunt ullam.

Excepturi nisi incidunt doloremque consequuntur in quisquam distinctio. Aliquid ea eum quaerat saepe illum hic veritatis eius. Incidunt quod omnis maxime impedit. Vitae illum nulla voluptatem dicta iste ut quae.

Nostrum sunt aliquid et adipisci corporis neque assumenda enim. Blanditiis consectetur quibusdam earum maxime enim et. Officia minus libero optio. Dolor quia necessitatibus voluptate nemo veritatis porro.

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (74) $101

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8