<p>I'm a rising sophomore currently interning at an international commercial bank (think HSBC, Citibank, Standard-Chartered, etc). The branch is not large, but it is my region's headquarters. I hope to enter investment banking (or at least set goals ambitious enough for it and decide later). However, I'm afraid my work here isn't the kind I-bankers do. My work consists of presenting new investment products to the other bankers, evaluating certain commodities if they are worth investing in, keeping the other bankers up to date with financial news (because they're too caught up with sales), assisting and watching the other bankers as they meet their clients to provide wealth management advice, helping customers on the service lobby, organizing mini-projects like seminars and team-building activities, and occasional clerical duties. The bankers here aren't exactly knowledgeable in finance; they're mostly salespersons. I don't know much about finance too, so my true learning comes when I research on the financial theories behind the bank's products and present them to the other bankers.</p>
<p>I didn't know what to expect when I first came here - to be honest, I had zero knowledge about finance and could not differentiate between a commercial bank and an investment bank. I applied for an internship to a few banks and as soon as I got accepted by this one I ended my search. Sounds really silly... but at least I know more about banks now! Anyway, I'm starting to regret ending my search. But as a freshman, I doubt I would have gotten an investment banking internship of any kind. Should I be happy with this on my resume? Or should I have just gone to summer school to boost my GPA?</p>