Does I-banking internship hurts once chance for any prestigious fellowships?

proudamerican007 · 03-09-2008, 08:32 PM

My daughter’s close friends were looking to apply to some fellowships to study. One of them is a star (actually if one Google him his achievement are all over the place). Last summer, he interned at JPM Morgan. Currently, he attends Sloan school in MIT. Beginning his school year, he wanted to apply to some of the prestigious fellowship. He is an extremely bright and well-accomplished kid. He has won many awards in MIT and is among one of the top student. He has excellent resume as he has won many top high school scholarships awards for his community service. He has been dedicated for this cause from say maybe last 13 years. When he went to MIT career office, they told him that his internship at JP Morgan practically ruined his chances for Rhodes or Marshall. Had he not done so, he would have been an excellent candidate. Similar thing also happened to a senior who was recommended for Rhodes and Marshall. However, he was told that his chances were not good due to I-banking internship. Other kids who are at Harvard, Yale and Princeton, say that choosing I-banking career hurts the student chances for fellowships. Does I-banking internship really hurts once chance for any prestigious fellowships? I am just wondering.

proudamerican007 · 03-09-2008, 09:03 PM

Friday, Daughter accepted a summer internship at an I-Bank. She currently attends Harvard.

ijreinsn · 03-10-2008, 12:30 AM

proudamerican007, the way you phrased it, it sounds like she did the ibanking internship prior to going to harvard, which either means that your daughter has some insane connections to be able to get a job for junior at harvard or she just did grunt work during her "internship."

i believe the op is asking about fellowships for college students to apply to.

EECS@JHU · 03-10-2008, 05:07 AM

plz notice that the first 2 posts are by the same ppl.

To the OP: IMO it does ruin chances simply because all prestigious scholarship committees are looking for 'standout' students. American college students seem to be obsessed with i-banking (and no one blames them), however working in that industry does make you seem as an 'average' candidate.

Not only prestigious scholarships but even business schools seem to be frowning upon the number of students with i-banking backgrounds.

Everyone is looking for 'different' people.