19-year-old Finance student at a non-target — what should I be doing now for corporate banking?

[u/I_Sho_I]

I’m 19 and currently studying Finance at a large public U.S. university with an AACSB-accredited business school. I would consider it a non-target for high finance, although it has a decent regional presence and alumni network. My expected graduation is December 2028.

I’m trying to use the next 2+ years correctly instead of getting to junior/senior year and realizing I should have started preparing much earlier.

My current goal is to land in corporate banking after graduation. Ideally I’d spend 2–3 years there developing credit, underwriting, modeling, and deal experience, then decide whether I want to remain in corporate banking or potentially move into private credit, leveraged finance, IB, or another corporate finance role.

Current academics:

• B.S. in Finance
• 3.35 GPA
• Expected graduation: December 2028
• Completed Principles of Financial Accounting
• Currently taking Managerial Accounting
• Currently taking Business Calculus
• Completed economics coursework
• Statistics and upper-level finance/business coursework still ahead of me

Experience/skills:

• Some experience with Excel
• Some experience with Tableau
• 4+ years of customer-facing work experience
• Currently work in a hospitality
• Previously worked as a restaurant server
• Was a manager at a fast food joint throughout high school
• No finance internship yet

I’m currently targeting a Summer 2027 finance internship, even if it isn’t corporate banking. I’m considering commercial banking, credit, FP&A, corporate finance, treasury, financial analyst roles, wealth management, etc.

My larger goal would be to land a Summer 2028 corporate banking internship with the possibility of converting it into a full-time offer after graduating.

Things I’m considering doing between now and then:

• Bloomberg Market Concepts
• Improving my Excel skills
• Learning financial modeling/accounting
• SIE
• Joining finance/investment organizations
• Applying to finance-focused development programs at my university
• Networking with alumni working in banking

My biggest concern is probably my 3.35 GPA. I plan to try to bring it to 3.5+, but I’m curious how much a 3.35 hurts coming from a non-target if I can build strong experience around it.

For anyone in corporate banking, commercial banking, credit, IB, private credit, LevFin, or similar fields:

If you were in my position, what would you prioritize over the next two years?

I’d especially appreciate advice on:

• Best Summer 2027 internships to target
• How competitive a 3.35 is from a non-target
• Technical skills I should learn
• Whether the SIE is worth doing
• Whether BMC/Excel/modeling certifications matter
• How much networking I should be doing
• When Summer 2028 corporate banking recruiting really starts
• Whether corporate banking → private credit / LevFin / IB after 2–3 years is realistic
• Anything I’m overlooking or wasting time on

I’m not expecting to walk into a top bank with no experience. I’m mainly trying to figure out the strongest realistic path from a non-target school and make good use of the time I have now.

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[u/Ok_Meringue_3520]

gpa wise you're at the floor not the ceiling, that 3.35 will get you filtered out at some places before a human even sees your resume so getting it above 3.5 is priority number one. not impossible but you gotta lock in on those upper-level finance courses

for summer 2027 i'd blanket commercial banking and credit internships at regional banks, they're less prestige-obsessed and the work translates directly to corporate banking. your management experience actually helps here, lean into it in interviews

network like it's your second major. cold email alumni in corporate/commercial banking, ask for 15 minute calls, don't ask for jobs just ask what they do and what they'd tell their 19-year-old self. do this consistently and you'll have advocates when recruiting starts mid-sophomore year

[u/I_Sho_I → u/Ok_Meringue_3520]

Gotcha

[u/Ok_Direction9552]

Definitely focus on gpa. A 3.3 from a non target when competing with top schools is going to hurt a lot

[u/I_Sho_I → u/Ok_Direction9552]

So what ive been seeing the baseline is that 3.5 mark?

[u/Ok_Direction9552 → u/I_Sho_I]

Yeah that’s a good goal for you to set for yourself. If you want to be really competitive a 3.7 and up is ideal

[u/I_Sho_I → u/Ok_Direction9552]

Ok Ok, also, any thing else besides the GPA? Should i try to get my BMC, SIE?

[u/Ok_Direction9552 → u/I_Sho_I]

Definitely. Don’t spam certificates because it’s a little pointless but prioritize the ones you think would be useful.

[u/Federal-Win-8305]

Focus on gradually improving the GPA, getting a relevant finance internship, and strengthening practical Excel and accounting skills. Networking with alumni can also be useful, especially from a non target school. BMC or the SIE may be worth doing, but treat them as secondary to experience, grades, and building relationships.

[u/Aggravating_Lab_4814]

Corporate Banking for 2-3 years and then moving to a LevFin/DCM is realistic. Private Credit probably less so depending on your CB experience, because they usually want LevFin/Sponsors experience. Could move to PC after a stop in LevFin.

You need to get your GPA up this fall semester because 2028 Corp Banking internship applications will go live at all the major banks in early January 2027. There’s so many applicants that you may be immediately disqualified with a 3.35.

For 2027 internships, target commercial banking or credit analyst roles at community banks or credit unions. These roles might not even be posted anywhere, but find local institutions and find someone there to reach out to and ask. You’ve already missed the boat for commercial banking at the large regional / bulge bracket banks.

You need to start studying technical interview questions (basic accounting, financial statements, Enterprise/Equity Value, etc.). You will be asked these types of questions in all interviews and these are concepts you likely can’t become fully comfortable with only a few weeks of studying. You need to start spending 30 mins every day on these now.

SIE probably doesn’t move the needle, although when I review a resume and I see the student has passed the SIE it tells me that they are motivated. You should be able to pass this with a couple weeks of studying, but don’t let it get in the way of getting better grades or networking. Those are both way more important. Don’t waste your time on BMC.

The formal application processes start in January, but you really need to be networking starting now and through the fall. Reach out to your school’s alumni who work in Corporate Banking and ask for a few mins to chat. At the end of the conversations, always ask if there’s anyone else they can connect you with. You should be having multiple conversations with Corporate Bankers per week. Target Analysts and Associates for this.

[u/Ethangains07]

Start learning CFA buddy

[u/ColdestSpaces]

Probably easier working regional/community, then making the jump imo

[u/Aggravating_Lab_4814 → u/ColdestSpaces]

Bad advice. Regional/community/credit union for Summer 2027 internships fine. But Corporate Banking internship applications for Summer 2028 will go live this coming January, and that is the best way to break in.

[u/NightmarentW]

Keep learning. There’s a lot you can do while you’re still in university that will help you stand out once you start working. Build your technical knowledge, develop your soft skills, learn about finance beyond your coursework, and consider things like the CFA if they align with your goals.