What are the odds of getting into investment banking?
The lucrative and fast-paced career of an investment banker is a highly competitive one. For instance, in a recent year, 236,000 applicants competed for roughly 3,500 internships at Goldman Sachs. This is common across the industry where acceptance rates for programs are typically less than 2%.
Across the industry, even at the firms which saw slight year-on-year falls, the norm seems to be that the crude percentage chance of getting accepted to an investment banking graduate program is a bit more than 1%, but significantly less than 2%.
Investment banking is extremely competitive with way more applicants than available positions each year. You will often be up against students from Ivy League universities, with a high GPAs and multiple internships under their belts.
Statistics indicate that acceptance rates for top investment banks, such as JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, typically range between a mere 3% to 5%. JP Morgan is renowned for its rigorous recruitment process, resulting in extremely low acceptance rates.
Yes, GPA matters! Bulge bracket banks and almost all other investment banks will look at your GPA when applying for a job and you should include it in your resume. Typically banks screen resumes based on GPA and will often remove anyone below 3.5.
Ways to make a lot of money in this world
Sure, anybody can make a good living being a doctor or a lawyer or an investment banker where you can make ~$200-500K per year a few years after you finish with your studies, but you hit a ceiling very quickly unless you start your own practice (aka start your own business).
Banks don't break out investment banker headcount specifically, but data released last week by research firm Coalition, suggests investment banker headcount across the industry fell only 4% year-on-year in the first half, which is when many of the cuts at Goldman and Morgan Stanley took place.
Last year, JPMorgan said it had 50,000 applications for 400 jobs in its investment banking division, an acceptance rate of 0.8%. This year, JPMorgan says it had 270,855 applications for 4,604 internships globally, an acceptance rate of 1.7%. Click here to create a profile on eFinancialCareers.
But if you're 30, graduated from university at 22, and have 8 years of full-time experience, along with a mid-level position at a large company, it will be more difficult. It's still possible, but the success probability is much lower.
Of the two careers, investment banking requires greater quantitative acumen and math skills. The educational requirements for becoming a lawyer are much more rigid than those for becoming an investment banker.
Can an average person become an investment banker?
In most cases, the vast majority of people wanting to go into investment banking or finance have some level of quantitative experience and for them to be successful, they must have a good understanding of what the role is all about and be able to articulate what they bring to it, matching their experience and skills, ...
Goldman Sachs is the premier investment bank in the world. With an acceptance rate of roughly 4%, it's harder to get into Goldman than it is to get into Harvard or Yale. Let me share how to get a job at Goldman Sachs from someone who did.
For those seeking a career in investment banking, a bachelor's degree in finance is a prerequisite. Other potential acceptable majors include bachelors in economics or bachelors in business supplemented with a minor in finance.
Goldman Sachs does not give a specific minimum GPA requirement, though some sources suggest a GPA of at least 3.6 is preferred. Additionally, you may need to show relevant coursework and hard skills for certain programs.
They try to hire the top students from those schools as they have a track record of hiring talent from them. However, that does not mean that you cannot land such a job if you do not attend an ivy league school.
MBA in Finance is the most preferred degree by most top institutions. Apart from academics, the aspirant must be driven, an excellent communicator and be adept at networking.
The CEO of a major business typically makes about $1 million dollars a year. But the most successful CEOs have jobs that pay $1 million dollars a month or much much more. Examples: Sundar Pichai – CEO of Alphabet (owner of Google) – $225 million dollars per year.
Position Title | Typical Age Range | Base Salary (USD) |
---|---|---|
Analyst | 22-27 | $100-$125K |
Associate | 25-35 | $175-$225K |
Vice President (VP) | 28-40 | $250-$300K |
Director / Senior Vice President (SVP) | 32-45 | $300-$350K |
Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $86,000 | $41 |
75th Percentile | $68,500 | $33 |
Average | $44,910 | $22 |
25th Percentile | $24,500 | $12 |
Investment bankers and their firms take on a high level of risk during an IPO. They must have a strong sense of the market and the industry in which their clients are positioned to decide whether the risk is worth the potential profit.
Do investment bankers get fired?
Do investment banking analysts ever get fired from their bank? If so, what happens to them? Yes, investment banking analysts can be terminated from their bank. This can happen for various reasons, including poor performance, violation of company policies, or changes in the company's staffing needs.
In the high-stakes and fast-paced world of finance, the work-life balance of Investment Bankers often teeters on a fine line. Known for their grueling hours and the high-pressure environment of financial markets, Investment Bankers are frequently at the mercy of market fluctuations and client demands.
Q: What are your GPA requirements? A: We value diverse degree backgrounds and experiences and while a GPA 3.2 (or equivalent) in your undergraduate degree is preferred it is not required. Our training programs are designed to allow everyone, regardless of major studied to succeed.
What is the average GPA of investment banking summer analyst interns at Goldman Sachs or JP Morgan? You'll need an overall GPA of around 3.6 or better to be a competitive candidate, although that's more like the price of admission.
J.P. Morgan: “Big Headliner is Manhattan's Baruch College”
More Baruch alumni currently work at J.P. Morgan than any other school, according to our research,” the publication said.
References
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/where-millionaires-keep-money-070638027.html
- https://www.quora.com/What-is-Goldman-Sachs-policy-on-GPA
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/income-level-considered-rich-140003986.html
- https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/gpa-cutoffs-in-banking
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Decent-Salary
- https://byjusexamprep.com/bank-exam/where-do-you-see-yourself-after-5year-in-banking-sector
- https://medium.com/@info_25273/how-hard-is-it-to-get-into-investment-banking-49cc0bc8cdfa
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/economics/how-do-banks-make-money/
- https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-average-GPA-for-an-investment-banking-analyst-position-at-JP-Morgan-Goldman-Sachs-or-Morgan-Stanley
- https://www.theforage.com/blog/companies/goldman-sachs-internship
- https://academiainsider.com/is-a-3-5-gpa-for-grad-school-good-enough/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hnwi.asp
- https://growthequityinterviewguide.com/how-to-get-into-investment-banking
- https://medium.com/@georgealeesu/can-i-become-a-billionaire-as-an-investment-banker-88a079383a80
- https://mergersandinquisitions.com/age-investment-banking/
- https://commoncog.com/high-roller-lessons-americas-richest-banker/
- https://www.qtrade.ca/en/investor/education/investing-articles/financial-literacy/investing-in-your-20s-and-30s.html
- https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/2022/08/graduate-application-rates-investment-banks
- https://www.wgu.edu/career-guide/business/commercial-banker-career.html
- https://joinhandshake.com/blog/students/major-banks-career-path/
- https://www.quora.com/Is-it-easy-to-get-a-3-5-GPA-in-a-university
- https://www.upgrad.com/blog/how-to-become-an-investment-banker/
- https://www.circlesquare.co.uk/blog/blog/how-to-answer-the-question-please-tell-me-your-strengths-and-weakness-in-an-investment-banking-interview
- https://ischoolconnect.com/blog/top-bank-interview-questions-and-answers/
- https://fmi.online/what-are-my-chances-if-i-do-not-attend-an-ivy-league-school/
- https://www.degreechoices.com/blog/colleges-that-accept-3-5-gpa/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/savings/millionaire-calculator/
- https://creandgroup.com/en/ten-essential-qualities-in-a-private-banker/
- https://www.veem.com/library/are-wire-transfers-over-10000-reported-to-the-irs/
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-become-commercial-banker-skills-banking-nqhyf
- https://www.vintti.com/blog/investment-banker-salary-the-earnings-behind-high-stakes-finance/
- https://securenow.in/insuropedia/how-does-a-borrower-gpa-policy-work/
- https://www.appily.com/colleges/gpa/3-5
- https://www.careervillage.org/questions/49030/college-gpa-in-finance
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-money-millionaires-put-checking-120013872.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/managing-wealth/050716/10-checking-accounts-ultra-rich-use.asp
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/commercial-banker
- https://www.laattorney.com/carrying-large-amounts-of-cash-through-the-airport.html
- https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/finance/ageism-banking-old-old-keep-trying
- https://training-you.fr/the-most-and-least-stressful-jobs-in-banking-and-finance/
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/career/gpa-conversion-careers-finance-ib/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Safra
- https://collegeshortcuts.com/blog/3-5-gpa
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/investing/are-you-upper-middle-class/
- https://lazyapply.com/interview-answer/why-do-you-want-to-work-at-Commercial-Bank
- https://bankquality.com/blog/understanding-commercial-banks:-what-are-the-pros-and-cons/
- https://newscenter.baruch.cuny.edu/news/baruch-college-among-the-top-25-universities-for-getting-a-front-office-job-at-j-p-morgan-and-goldman-sachs/
- https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/macroeconomics/financial-sector/other-financial-institutions/
- https://www.collegevine.com/faq/18518/getting-into-harvard-with-a-low-gpa
- https://www.tealhq.com/work-life-balance/investment-banker
- https://careers.jpmorgan.com/us/en/students/campaign/asia-opps
- https://www.zippia.com/commercial-banker-jobs/
- https://growthequityinterviewguide.com/how-investment-banks-make-money
- https://www.financialsamurai.com/how-to-get-job-goldman-sachs/
- https://www.zippia.com/banker-jobs/demographics/
- https://www.theforage.com/blog/careers/best-paying-jobs-in-major-banks
- https://au.prosple.com/career-planning/the-perks-and-lows-of-commercial-banking
- https://www.quora.com/If-I-was-a-billionaire-could-I-withdraw-10-million-in-cash-from-my-bank-account
- https://gpacalculator.net/gpa-scale/3-5-gpa/
- https://www.buysidehustle.com/how-much-do-people-in-finance-make-lets-just-say-millions/
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Managing-Director-Investment-Banking-Salary
- https://abcfinance.co.uk/bank/commercial/
- https://www.coursera.org/articles/strengths-and-weaknesses-interview
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/research/wealthy-credit-card-habits/
- https://imarticus.org/blog/what-gpa-do-you-need-for-investment-banking/
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/what-some-effective-networking-strategies-introverts-5azlf
- https://vault.com/industries/commercial-banking/industry-outlook
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/too-big-to-fail.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financialcareers/09/most-influential-bankers.asp
- https://portal.ct.gov/DOB/Consumer/Consumer-Education/ABCs-of-Banking---Banks-and-Our-Economy
- https://www.chase.com/personal/education/student/life-after-college/does-gpa-matter-for-jobs
- https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/2023/09/commercial-banking-career
- https://www.theforage.com/blog/careers/difference-between-retail-commercial-banking
- https://www.touchdownmoney.com/jobs-that-pay-1-million-dollars-a-month/
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/interview-question-why-are-you-interested-in-this-position
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/commercialbank.asp
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/uk/business-bank-accounts/differences-between-commercial-and-business-banking/
- https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/ivy-league/harvard-gpa-requirements/
- https://economics.illinois.edu/resources/career-services/career-paths/commercialbanker
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/most-millennials-have-less-than-$100k-in-retirement-savings:-should-you-be-concerned
- https://www.bestcolleges.com/business/how-to-become-investment-banker/
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-do-you-youre-banker-struggling-cope-industrys-pressures-2v1jf
- https://byjus.com/question-answer/explain-the-functions-of-a-commercial-bank-1/
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/career/how-to-get-job-investment-banking/
- https://www.naukri.com/blog/why-should-i-hire-you/
- https://www.ivyscholars.com/investment-banking-career-path/
- https://portal.ct.gov/DOB/Consumer/Consumer-Education/ABCs-of-Banking--Banks-Thrifts-and-Credit-Unions
- https://byjus.com/question-answer/the-main-aim-of-the-commercial-banks-is-to-earn-profits-none-of-these-to/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/investmentbanker.asp
- https://www.joinleland.com/library/a/top-ten-investment-banks
- https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/2022/04/goldman-sachs-internships
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-can-investment-bankers-manage-stress-levels-ibr5c
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionals/091515/career-advice-investment-banking-vs-law.asp
- https://mergersandinquisitions.com/low-gpa-investment-banking/
- https://smartasset.com/career/what-should-my-net-worth-be-at-35
- https://www.bestcolleges.com/business/how-to-become-banker/
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/highest-paid-banking-jobs
- https://www.nrsforu.com/rsc-web-preauth/articles/never-too-late-to-start-investing
- https://mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-career-path/
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Commercial-Banker-Salary--in-California
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/what-is-commercial-banking/
- https://www.zippia.com/banker-jobs/salary/
- https://www.tealhq.com/post/is-commercial-banking-a-good-career-path
- https://www.forbes.com/2007/02/25/wall-street-retirement-lead_achieve07_cx_lm_0301number.html
- https://www.careerprinciples.com/resources/investment-banking-hours
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-get-into-banking-jobs
- https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/resources/careers/salary/six-figure-salary
- https://mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-associate-job/
- https://www.hiration.com/interview-prep/teller-interview-questions/
- https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/2023/10/investment-banking-jobs-outlook
- https://www.quora.com/Will-one-F-ruin-my-GPA
- https://vault.com/professions/investment-bankers/requirements
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/transitioning-investment-banking-from-non-finance-lukman-yusuf-alabi
- https://www.investopedia.com/how-much-cash-can-you-deposit-at-a-bank-8553483
- https://byjus.com/question-answer/what-are-the-disadvantages-of-commercial-banks/
- https://homework.study.com/explanation/as-an-investment-banker-if-i-open-my-own-private-equity-firm-or-advisory-firm-or-invest-my-earnings-can-i-become-a-billionaire.html
- https://www.quora.com/Do-investment-banking-analysts-ever-get-fired-from-their-bank-If-so-what-happens-to-them
- https://bowiestate.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-business/departments/management-marketing-and-public-administration/jobs-and-internships/jp-morgan-chase/
- https://www.zippia.com/commercial-banker-jobs/what-does-a-commercial-banker-do/
- https://sellsidehandbook.com/2016/09/01/grades-matter-investment-banking/
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/career-map/sell-side/banking/commercial/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/business-and-marketing/become-investment-banker/
- https://www.pymnts.com/news/banking/2023/banks-slash-60k-jobs-as-dealmaking-and-ipos-decline/