<p>When would it be a good idea to start searching for an internship for sophomore summer (summer 09)? Where should I go search? Should I start with career services? (I'm sorry...I'm absolutely oblivious as to how even start about this whole thing). I'm doing econ and math, so something in the banking (on the quant side) might be good I suppose.</p>
<p>You can start doing some general research on the Fall semester (perhaps attend some of the company presentations), and then search/apply at the very beginning of the Spring semester (i.e., this semester, if you wanted an internship this summer). You should be getting emails from career services about company presentations and possible opportunities. Also, you search for and apply to a lot of (mostly OCR) internships via PennLink (<a href=“http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/pennlink.html)%5B/url%5D”>http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/pennlink.html)</a>.</p>
<p>Wait until December, and start networking your ass off. Find all the alumni in banking you can and send them emails saying you’re interested in banking and that you were wondering if they could take some time to talk and offer any advice.</p>
<p>I landed a couple interviews at US bulge-brackets this way, and a job as a summer analyst at a big bank in Canada. (I’m a sophomore now)</p>
<p>how do I find out which alumni are in banks?</p>
<p>Start networking like hell. I literally applied to almost every banking job in pennlink (over 80+), got a lot of interviews, but didn’t get much past a 2-day program at Morgan Stanley through career services. Generally, they just said they liked me but didn’t want sophomores. Now, I had a connection at a private equity firm, and that’s the only offer I got so far. </p>
<p>Point being, even if you have a very strong resume (which I thought I did) the odds of getting a decent banking internship sophomore year is really low. So try to backdoor your way in. That said, it’s definitely worth applying to the summer rotational programs a few banks have (MS, Lehman, Citi). Those are the ones you’re most likely to get interviews for as sophomores. Btw, the deadlines for some of those are extremely early. (Also, if you are a minority, look into SEO–there’s a plethora of infomation of that on wallstreetoasis.com)</p>
<p>I think I’ll try to look into those rotational programs. How early on are the apps due? I’m mostly interested in S&T, do you think that will have any impact on my chances to get an interview/offer?</p>
<p>I forgot to mention: In many cases, networking>>>GPA in banking. I have a 3.2.</p>