Hey guys -
I'm a physics major with a CS minor (at a big 10 non target) looking to get into IB. I'm a junior now, so I'm a bit concerned about my late start, but I've made up my mind that investment banking is where I want to end up.
I have a few questions:
1) How should I go about breaking in? I'm networking via linkedin with IB professionals who attended my college, but I'm worried that coming from a non target will prevent me from getting second looks. If I have the quantitative/technical chops to succeed in a banking environment will this be an issue for me?
2) My GPA is very low right now - 3.1/4.0. This is because I have to retake one of my higher level physics classes that I dropped a day after the deadline. When I graduate it should be back in the 3.3-3.4 range. Is this sufficient, or will recruiters throw my application away due to my low GPA? Do I even have a chance of succeeding in IB?
I'm thinking about getting an MFE from a school similar to my current one - with a master's degree is the non target/target distinction still as applicable? What is a good route (in terms of grad school) for someone with my physics/CS background looking to head into banking? Is grad school necessary considering my lower GPA?
3) Where should I learn the skills I lack due to my course studies? I'm looking at financial mathematics textbooks now and familiarizing myself with a lot of the derivations and concepts. Any suggestions on how to proceed? How would you rank, in order of importance, the technical skills necessary for banking?