#FinanceCareer #GPA #Internships #HighFinance #CareerAdvice
Hey all! 👋 I recently stumbled upon a post from a student going into their junior year with a 3.09 GPA, feeling a bit uncertain about their future in high finance. They’ve shared all the steps they’ve been taking to improve their chances, but are still looking for more advice. Here are some thoughts on how they can continue to enhance their profile:
– First off, kudos to you for being proactive and seeking out every opportunity to learn and grow! That’s a great attitude to have, and it will definitely pay off in the long run. 🎓
– Consider networking with professionals in the field. Attend industry events, connect with alumni from your school, and reach out to professionals on LinkedIn for informational interviews. Building those relationships can open doors you might not have considered. 🤝
– Look into certifications or designations that could boost your credentials. CFA, CPA, or other relevant certifications can demonstrate your commitment to the field and help overcome a lower GPA. 📚
– Don’t underestimate the power of a strong resume and cover letter. Highlight your relevant experiences and skills, and tailor your application materials to each opportunity you apply for. 💼
– Stay persistent and don’t get discouraged. Landing a role in high finance can be competitive, but with your determination and willingness to learn, you’re setting yourself up for success. Keep pushing forward and exploring new ways to stand out. 💪
Remember, your GPA is just one piece of the puzzle. Focus on showcasing your strengths, building your skills, and demonstrating your passion for the field. You’ve already taken some great steps in the right direction, so keep up the hard work and stay positive about what the future holds! 🚀
What other advice do you all have for this student? Share your thoughts and tips below! 👇 Let’s help them navigate their path to success in high finance together. 🌟
3.09 GPA from a really good school is not cooked unless you have a very very narrow range of jobs you’d be willing to accept out of college.
Bro stop wasting your time on “clicking around” a Bloomberg terminal and actually study. Focus on getting your GPA up, you still have time.
Take a deep breath. A 3.09 GPA probably won’t work for investment banking, but there are plenty of other areas of finance that aren’t as hyper-competitive where you’ll be just fine because you’re coming from a target school.
I do some recruiting for my company. I usually hire 2 interns a year from my alma mater (target school). I don’t care about GPA. If you got past admissions at my alma mater, you’re smart enough to do the work.
Stop spending your money on classes/prep courses that no one cares about. Focus on pulling your GPA up if you can, but what you really need is an internship next summer that aligns with your career goals. So first, figure out your career goals. “Any job that lands me in high finance” is not a plan. There are a ton of areas of high finance, many of them very different from each other, and their recruiters are going to look for different things. The strategy you’re currently following of “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks” isn’t something I recommend for students because it signals to recruiters that you aren’t serious about their particular area of finance and might consider them to be a back up option and are a reneg risk if you do accept an offer.
So, figure out what area of finance you’re targeting, evaluate the reality of how competitive it is, and then APPLY TO INTERNSHIPS. Like, as many as you can. Starting now. Apply through your school’s career center. If they have Handshake, apply through that. If you’re interested in multiple areas of finance, that’s okay, just be prepared to explain why you’re interested in a coherent, logical way that doesn’t make that area sound like your backup plan.
it’s Go to the Fall Career Fair when school starts back. Talk to recruiters, a lot of them will likely be alums and more liable to help you than if you just randomly apply on job boards online.
Also, if like half your school’s dorms don’t have AC and you think it might be because the university has chosen to spend money that could have gone to renovations on groundskeeping instead (the obsession runs so deep that you’re rumored to fail a specific class if you walk on the grass of the main building’s quad), message me bc we probably went to the same school and I have great sympathy for your suffering.
Lol
Just lock in brother
GPA up, and also take Level I of the CFA. I hired guys several times with lower GPAs or non-targets, but they’d proven they wanted it and had gone much mire than the extra yard. They all worked out for me as hires. You don’t need to be the “Smartest Guy in the Room” to work in finance, you need a certain level of intellect to do the job, after that other skills, traits and desire are better predictors of success.
Enroll in the CFA, will definitely boost your resume.
If your family can afford it, get a regular job (since 3.1 should still get you a job), work two years and reset with an MBA.
If you can’t, then try for some ops program and network your way into middle and front office.
Since you’re at a target, both those should be achievable with a 3.1.
Have you used your school’s tutoring services? They are free and great resource to understand the lectures and help get the homework done. Most of the time, these are smart students tutors who already took the same classes and know their stuffs.
Not cooked if from target
I graduated with a sub 3 GPA from a non-target state school. Was able to break into IB after 1 yr working and PE after 3 yrs working. Just get good at networking and find an industry you like and become an “expert” in it.
If I was in your situation, I’d spend about 80% of my energy trying to get my grades up.
The other 20%? Try to get an internship finance related but at a boutique firm where they probably won’t care as much about your grades as much.
Also what kind of finance do you want to get into? You’re in your junior year, so you should pick one and learn as much as you can about that specific area rather than just trying to get anything, because you won’t be able to talk as much about it if you don’t understand it fully. Choose an area and focus on it, ideally try to find a boutique firm in that area of finance you can intern at.
But like I said, applying and cold emailing for these things shouldn’t be where most of your energy is. Getting your GPA up should be. Will serve you better once you graduate and want to apply for more competitive opportunities.
n e t w o r k
I had like a 2.7 in undergrad and had several jobs before I got a 3.7 in graduate school. You’re not cooked. I’ve never been asked about my GPA except when going to grad school.
You can always retake the classes you didn’t do so great in, but it’s only worth it if you know you’ll ace it this go around
ivy league?
GPA is important because most internships have a GPA requirement. I would make that your priority because good internships get you in the door for your first job out of college.
What school
Why would you ever even admit that you are doomed. Brother, keep going.
Self-study hard and network now to lock up a solid internship at a boutique firm (PE would be ideal)
You can then network into a great FT role
I had a dogshit abortion GPA and still landed an investment analyst role at a PE firm thru networking, self study, white papers I wrote, models I built, and a referral from a boss at a previous internship