<p>i'm a rising sophomore at an ivy league university. i'm genuinely interested in the field of investment banking and my questions are basic ones about how an undergraduate student can gain work experience in investment banking. are they limited to internships? are these internships almost strictly for college seniors? after one graduates, what are the main factors in being hired as a first year analyst? work experience, gpa? i really dont know much about the field from the perspective of an undergraduate and appreciate any advice on the matter. thanks</p>
<p>looking at your post history, it sounds like:</p>
<p>1) you have previously asked questions about med school and law school. are you just asking about finance so you can go for the trifecta, or are you actually passionate about any of these?</p>
<p>2) You attend Columbia, meaning school-year internships with financial-world firms are not uncommon. Go to CCE and ask their advice, the one thing they do well is place people into jobs in finance and consulting.</p>