<p>I’m turning junior and never had an internship before. I have a 3.53 GPA (failed a class though) and probably will get a 3.66 after Spring semester.
I go to GMU (George Mason University) which is right by D.C. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>For the first internship, does it really matter where you do it? Should I just be worried about getting an internship as to the quality of the internship? Because I know with my GPA and with no experience, I can’t get a good accounting internship just yet. </p></li>
<li><p>How do you guys find your first internship?
My college’s website isn’t so great and doesn’t offer too many internships. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>There are tons of those “College Paint internships”, but i don’t see the value in those (no disrespect if you work there).</p>
<p>I’m sure the accounting department can get you on the right track. Go talk to someone in that department rather than trying to gather the information on-line without any face time. You will need to produce a resume and get active in the “mixers”, but experience of any significance probably is not as important as your overall GPA and leadership/participation in activities. My junior D got an intern job this summer at a Big 4 firm with very little experience. You will undoubtedly be asked why you failed a class. I hope you have a good explanation. Good luck.</p>
<p>What is a “mixers”?
Yes, I’m going to ask my accounting professor at office hours next time and ask a few of the TAs that are doing their masters for any good internships. </p>
<p>O man, my overall GPA is tanked because of that one failed class. I was depressed and very sick during that semester so had to go to consulting and doctors all the time. Didn’t have enough time to study and failed. The class was an elective and not a core class.
If I didn’t fail that class, I would have a 3.9.
You think this reason is good enough for them to “forgive me” for that 1 class? </p>
<p>But yes, I’m doing everything I can to raise my GPA!
I’m the VP of a club and members in a few others, so hopefully that helps.</p>
<p>For the Big 4, if I apply and don’t get in as an intern, can I still apply next year? Does applying twice look bad?</p>
<p>Does GMU has a Career Center? Your school’s Career Center is your best friend in finding internships. Most internships come from companies recruiting directly at the target universities. Did you attend any Career Fairs at your school? A “mixer” is usually refer to information sessions where several companies’ representatives came and mixed with students that are interested in learning about careers at the various places. You also need to apply early - starting early in the Fall term. You can always apply next year and it will not look bad in applying more than once.</p>
<p>Any accounting internship in the summer after sophomore year will look good on your resume. Unless you have connections, you probably won’t be able to get a paid one, unless maybe you have completed intermediate accounting by now. Try non-profits in DC if you have to. There should be tons of those in DC. Big four will like that you have an internship so early, all other things being equal. Be sure to list your accounting coursework gpa on your resume.</p>
<p>@Christian2. Yup, my school has a career center. They do have some good resources but most of the time they just tell me to go to the online site and submit my resume online and wait for companies to reply.
I went to 2 career fairs but they weren’t that helpful, 90% of the companies told me to apply online so it wasn’t too helpful to go.
Guess everything is online now.</p>
<p>@bthomp1. Yeah, I’m going to apply to every company and hope for the best.
Even if I intern at the Red Cross or a company not related to accounting, that is fine right? (the job description is accounting-related just not the company itself)</p>
<p>Big 4 summer internship recruitment will start at the beginning of your fall semester/quarter. Make sure you know when it’ll go on, try to go to as many social events and meet as many people you can. Connections mean everything. See if your university has some kind of Accounting club or society or anything along those lines. They probably host events with the Big 4, midtiers, and other regional firms. </p>
<p>Most Big 4 expect you to have little to no experience so don’t worry about it. However, any other accounting or business experience you do have will only put you ahead of the competition.</p>
<p>Your F won’t prevent you from getting an interview - it’s an outlier and your overall GPA is good. As long as you make some connections, network well with professionals, and have a good resume, you’ll most likely get some summer internship interviews. You will probably have to explain that F, though. Try and portray it in the least negative light that you can.</p>
<p>spacekillers, did any company come to recruit at your school at all? You need to sign up to interview with those companies that come in order to get an internship for the summer. It might be too late for this summer. Like what rusoboy23 said, you need to start early and sign up this coming Fall term for next summer’s internship or for your full time job after graduating from college. Good luck to your search.</p>