New Sophomore User, Advice wanted

Hi, I'm new here, and I guess I have to introduce myself.

I go to a top 20 school (USNEWS) but not on the east coast, so recruiting is a bit tough here. I'm studying Mechanical Engineering with minors in engineering management and financial economics. I had an engineering internship after my freshman year, but it slightly opened my eyes to the fact that I might want a more exciting, lucrative career.
This summer, I want to live in NYC (to get away from my boring Chicago suburb) and get an internship that can both jumpstart a possible finance related career or just give me insight to see if I enjoy finance more than engineering. I'm also open to consulting.
I have an interview tomorrow for a prop trading firm in Chicago, but again, I don't want to have to commute 40 minutes everyday to get to the city, so I prefer NYC. My GPA isn't perfect (3.4) because engineering and math courses at my school are ridiculous (most math classes curve to the middle being a 75).
Basically, I'd like any advice, as to what the best possible way to get an internship in NYC is. It could be IB, or trading, or consulting, whatever. I just don't feel like I'm looking in the right spots.

 
Best Response

My first bit of advice would be to change your username to something that isn't your real name and not have a picture of yourself as your avatar. There is no upside to giving away your anonymity on this board.

Start networking with alumni, checking out your school's job board, talk to older guys on campus that are going in to finance, etc. Read up about everything on WSO and learn from the years of wisdom in these threads.

I'm not completely familiar with engineering GPAs, but a 3.4 in engineering is usually considered pretty solid. Obviously you're gonna want to try to get it as high as possible, but a 3.4 in Mechanical Engineering from a top 20 school isn't terrible.

What kind of finance recruiting is there at your school?

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 

Thanks for the advice, action has been taken. Long live Paul Allen.

Anyway, at my school they do have info sessions and visits from pretty decent financial institutions, but as a sophomore, I'm competing with many, many juniors from my school. What is the best way to find a small boutique to intern at? As I think that'll be my best bet

 

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[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA

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