How hard is it to break into top investment banks?
Getting into elite firms like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, or Morgan Stanley is incredibly competitive. Every year, these banks receive a flood of applications for just a handful of analyst positions. It got me wondering: what truly sets the candidates who make it apart from those who don’t? Is it mainly stellar grades, relevant internships, and networking, or do technical skills and case interview performance play a bigger role in the final rounds?
Also, how much of a disadvantage is it for someone coming from a non-target college versus a top-tier university? And with more people becoming aware of finance careers, is the competition even fiercer in 2026? I’d love to hear real experiences and insights from those who’ve been through the process.