Harder Than Harvard: Why Goldman Internships Are Now the Ultimate Career Test

Check out my latest YouTube video ‘The Investment Banking Industry: A Beginner's Guide‘. I’ll be doing more lecture style educational videos like this going forward.

Hey 👋!

Let’s get one thing straight.

Landing a summer internship at Goldman Sachs or JPMorgan in 2025 is no longer just “competitive.”

It’s nearly impossible.

Here’s what we’re dealing with:

• Goldman Sachs: 360,000+ applicants → 2,600 seats

• Acceptance rate: 0.7%

Yes, that’s not a typo. Zero point seven percent.

To put that into perspective, you’d have a better chance getting into Harvard, surviving Navy SEAL training, or even becoming a NASA astronaut.

Harvard: 3.6%
NASA: 0.083%
Goldman: 0.7%

And the kicker?

They’re already doing final round interviews for 2026 (in the US).
So if you haven’t started preparing, you’re already behind.

But why is it so competitive?

Simple:

1. The brand still carries enormous weight. Having “Goldman Sachs” on your CV opens doors across finance, private equity, VC, and even CEO roles in unrelated industries later on in your career.

2. The internship is the pipeline. One-third of Goldman’s partner class started as interns. Translation? Nail the internship = get the full-time offer = climb the ladder.

3. It pays. Summer interns earn the same salary as first-year analysts (prorated)—that’s ~$70K–125K/year in NYC, ~£50K–£90K/year in the UK, without bonuses.

And every year, demand increases:

• Applications have grown 300% since David Solomon became CEO in 2018.

• In just the last year alone, they’ve grown by 15%.

• Rest assured, this is something you don’t need to worry about if you’re part of Finance Fast Track.

So what’s the secret?

Here’s what most students miss:

“I’ll just apply next year and see what happens.”

Wrong mindset. This isn’t the lottery.

You don’t get lucky. You get selected.

Goldman hires from 500+ schools. They target Ivy Leagues, but also show up at hire from non-targets. I went to a non-target.

Experience and relevant finance extracurriculars hold a lot of weight and matter more than your university brand.

Why?

Because they’re not just looking for finance robots.

They’re looking for:

• Communicators

• Leaders

• Curious minds

• People with a point of view

• And above all, students who’ve done the work and display genuine interest

This means understanding the firm, knowing the division you want, showing a clear trajectory, and—yes—being interesting.

What does the process look like?

Here’s how it breaks down:

1. Apply over a year in advance. (If you're aiming for summer 2026, start now.)

2. Round 1: HireVue video interview (~30 mins) (prep your answers and get live feedback from me in our weekly mock interview calls here)

   • Questions like:

     • “Why Goldman Sachs?”

     • “Walk me through your resume”

     • “Explain investment banking like you were five”

3. Round 2: Superday interviews (2–5 interviewers)

4. Bonus: Engineering roles include a coding assessment

Glassdoor puts the difficulty rating at 3.5/5—but don't be fooled.

The questions may not be technical drills, but they’re screening for polish, depth, and clarity aka can you speak clearly, tell a good story, build rapport and be your authentic self.

None of these are taught in your average finance course. Most offers get handed out based on likability. After all, employees at investment banks want to hire interns who they don’t mind sitting next to for 15 hours a day and sharing some laughs with, talking about sports and non-work stuff late into the nightshift.

Always remember - you’re being assessed on:

• How well you tell your story

• How clearly you understand the firm

• And how compellingly you answer why you belong

When I coach people 1:1 the unlimited mock interview practise is where people get the most value because they master the art of talking and presenting themselves and their stories in interviews.

Interested in 1:1 coaching with me? Reply to this email with your CV and a line or two on why you’re interested.

So… how do you stand out?

Here’s my honest take, after years of working with students who went on to land offers at GS, JPM, MS, and beyond:

1. You need a story that aligns with your division of interest.
   → “Why Asset Management?” should not sound like a Wikipedia summary.

2. You need a CV that passes the 6-second skim test.
   → No fluff. No waffle. Attention grabbing. Curiosity crafted in. Results-driven, brand-enhancing bullets only.

3. You need a strategy.
   → This isn’t just about knowing the answers. It’s about knowing the game. Having a roadmap and putting in the work.

Let me help you beat the odds.

If you're serious about landing a summer internship in finance…

There’s no better place to start than Finance Fast Track. Mind you, the price is doubling this evening and over 100 people have joined at a ridiculous discount.

Inside, you'll get:

✅ Division-specific challenges to add as relevant experience on your CV
✅ Guidance and a clear roadmap on what you need to do for the next 30 days
✅ Offer-level CV & cover letter reviews
✅ Weekly group calls and mock interviews (4 calls with me each week)
✅ 3,000+ quiz questions, templates, resources
✅ A community of students who’ve done it and more!

Plus, I guarantee results:
Put in the work and if you don’t land an offer in 120 days you’ll get your money back.

You won’t find a more affordable, hands-on programme for £29/month. There’s also a 7-day money back guarantee. So if you join and don’t like it, DM me and you’ll get a full refund.

Final word:

Don’t let these acceptance rates scare you. Let them sharpen you.

You don’t need a perfect background. You need a plan, a coach, and the will to outwork your competition.

And I’ll be in your corner every step of the way.

Afzal

P.S. Finance Fast Track will increase from £29/month to £59/month tonight. Grab your spot here.