How to Land a Goldman Sachs Summer Internship: Acceptance Rate, Superday Prep, and Insider Tips (2025)

What if we told you the Goldman Sachs internship you’re aiming for is more selective than Harvard’s? In 2024, Goldman Sachs received 315,126 applications for just 2,700 intern spots and a ~0.9% acceptance rate. By comparison, Harvard’s acceptance rate hovers around 3.6%, underscoring just how competitive this opportunity truly is.

But don’t misunderstand, GPA does matter. Goldman doesn’t post a firm cutoff, but successful summer analyst candidates typically land with a GPA of 3.5–3.6+, and in ultra-competitive divisions, many shooters aim for 3.7–3.8+. Still, it’s only one piece of the puzzle: the firm values candidates who are strategic, results-driven, and show clear impact across academics, extracurriculars, and real-world experience.

This guide breaks down the internship program application, from timeline and resume tips to the final round of interviews. Whether it’s your first time applying or you’re reapplying with a stronger profile, this is your roadmap to stand out.

Why the Goldman Sachs Internship Is So Competitive (and So Coveted)

Goldman Sachs has long been one of the most prestigious financial institutions on the planet. The firm recruits across roles in investment banking, engineering, asset management, and more. Landing a summer internship here means you’ll work directly on real clients’ businesses, contribute to deals, and receive mentorship from industry leaders.

In 2025, Goldman's intern acceptance rate is projected to remain under 1%. To put that in perspective, that's about one-sixth the hiring rate of top MBA programs. The bar is high, but not impossible to clear.

But it’s not just the prestige that draws top students from around the world. Here’s what makes Goldman Sachs so competitive:

• Real, high-impact work from day one: Interns don’t shadow, they build. Whether you're supporting a live M&A deal, analyzing credit risk, or working on data infrastructure, you’re contributing to projects that matter.
• A direct pipeline to full-time offers: Goldman views its internship program as a long-term investment. Top-performing interns are fast-tracked for full-time analyst or associate roles, making this one of the clearest on-ramps to a career in high finance.
• Elite network and mentorship: Interns are paired with both a daily coach and a senior sponsor, gaining access to a global network of mentors and leaders who support their growth long after the program ends.

Internship Timeline, Eligibility, and Roles

The Goldman Sachs Summer Analyst and Associate Internship Program typically runs for 8 to 10 weeks between May and August, depending on your geographic location and division placement. Interns are assigned to real teams and expected to contribute to active projects, ranging from financial modeling and market research to client deliverables and internal initiatives.

Application Timeline

Goldman Sachs opens applications in waves depending on region and role:

• India & APAC - Applications open on July 1, 2025, for Summer Analyst roles. Be ready day one.
• Americas & EMEA - Hold tight until August 15, 2025, when full event-based and tech internship applications go live.
• Engineering in India - Registration ran from August 16 to September 8, 2024, with hires joining in May/June 2025. This campus cycle operates slightly ahead of business-side timelines.
• Internship Duration - Most programs run 8–10 weeks over summer.
• Rolling Reviews - Goldman evaluates applicants continuously, so apply as soon as your region opens to maximize your chances.

Most applications close between September and November, but early applicants are reviewed first. Some divisions (like Investment Banking or Global Markets) may conclude interviews by mid-fall, so don’t wait.

Pro Tip: Submitting your application within the first two weeks of the opening date can significantly improve your chances of advancing.

Eligibility by Role

Goldman Sachs internships are divided by seniority and degree level:

• Analyst Internship (Undergraduate Level)
  • Open to students pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
  • Typically for those graduating between December 2025 and June 2026
• Associate Internship (Graduate Level)
  • Open to candidates pursuing an MBA, JD, PhD, or other advanced degree
  • Must be in the penultimate year of study

You can apply to multiple roles, but only your first application is guaranteed to be reviewed. Choose your target division carefully.

• Target vs. Non-Target Schools - Goldman Sachs has structured recruiting pipelines at a select group of “target schools” where it hosts info sessions, coffee chats, and first-round interviews through on-campus recruiting (OCR). These typically include:
  • U.S. undergraduate targets - Harvard, Wharton, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, NYU Stern, MIT, University of Chicago, and a few top public schools like Michigan Ross or UVA McIntire
  • MBA targets - Wharton, HBS, Booth, Stanford GSB, Columbia, Kellogg, Sloan, and others
  • UK targets - Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial College
  • Asia targets - IITs, IIMs, HKU, NUS

What Goldman Looks For

While Goldman Sachs does not publish a minimum GPA, top applicants typically:

• Rank in the top 10–20% of their class
• Have a track record of leadership, initiative, and impact
• Demonstrate strong analytical and interpersonal skills
• Pair academics with meaningful extracurriculars, internships, or personal projects
• Show a clear interest in the firm’s business areas and culture

Each application is evaluated holistically. Your resume, HireVue responses, and personal statement (where required) should reflect a coherent narrative of your career goals, relevant skills, and fit for your selected division.

The 4-Stage Application Process at Goldman Sachs

Expect the application process to take around 6-8 weeks. Here’s how it breaks down:

Note: This 4-stage process is confirmed by Goldman Sachs and applicants across Glassdoor and LinkedIn.

Resume Tips to Beat Goldman’s 30-Second Scan

Most rejections happen at the resume stage. Not because the candidate isn’t qualified, but because they blend into a stack of 300+ lookalikes.

Goldman Sachs recruiters spend 20–30 seconds per resume. Their eyes go straight to quantifiable outcomes, elite signals, and whether you can speak their language. If you’re applying with a template full of vague bullets and club roles, you’ve already lost.

Let’s break down what a Goldman-worthy resume really looks like.

Every Bullet Should Sell Impact, Not Involvement

Your resume isn’t a transcript of responsibilities. It’s a highlight reel of results. You need to sell your value in business terms: money moved, processes improved, complexity handled. Instead of: “Worked on research for client portfolio”, write: “Built investment thesis for $40M client portfolio; presented asset allocation strategy that outperformed benchmark by 6% over 12 months.”

For every bullet, ask yourself:

• What was the commercial outcome?
• What did I improve, build, grow, or solve?
• Could someone from Goldman pitch this as a win?

Expert tip: Your best bullet should be your first bullet. Don’t bury the lead.

Structure: 1 Page, 3 Sections, No Fluff

Structure matters. The right layout signals professionalism and focus. Goldman’s internal ATS will flag resumes with formatting issues or unconventional templates.

Your resume should have three tight sections:

1. Education – Include GPA (if 3.5+), honors, relevant coursework
2. Experience – 2-4 key roles with 2-3 strong bullets each
3. Skills & Leadership – Software, languages, certifications, and standout leadership or community roles

Formatting rules:

Use a clean, single-column layout in black and white. No icons, colors, or headshots. Stick to professional fonts like Calibri or Garamond, size 10–11 pt, and format consistently. Dates go on the right, locations on the left. Avoid any design “flair” and let the content do the work.

Most importantly, every bullet point should start with a strong verb and end with a measurable result. If your bullets are just a list of responsibilities, you're wasting space. A recruiter should be able to glance at the first line of each section and immediately understand what impact you had, and how it might transfer to a client-facing, fast-paced role at Goldman.

Beat the ATS With Targeted Language

Goldman’s applicant tracking system (ATS) is designed to scan for role-relevant keywords, but that doesn’t mean you should stuff your resume with finance jargon. The goal is to reflect an understanding of the specific division’s language and workflows. If you're applying to Investment Banking, you should naturally be referencing M&A deals, valuation methodologies, or pitch materials. For Global Markets, terms like equities, trade execution, or macroeconomic trends should appear, ideally tied to something you analyzed or acted on. Engineering resumes should mention Python, distributed systems, or data infrastructure, but in a way that shows how you built or solved something meaningful.

To tailor well, read the job description closely and download a few actual intern resumes from your target group on LinkedIn. Study how those candidates describe their work, especially how they use division-specific language without sounding like they copied from a job post. Your resume should mirror the tone, scope, and level of detail of someone already doing the job, not someone applying cold.

Pro tip: Download 2–3 intern resumes from LinkedIn of those who got offers in your target group. Study how they describe their impact, and mirror the tone and technical depth.

Show You’re Already Doing the Work

The best Goldman candidates aren’t just high performers; they’re self-starters. They don’t wait to be told what to build. They’re already modeling companies, writing market updates, or building tools in Python for their own curiosity. And that shows up on their resume in ways that make them memorable.

If you’ve ever built a full DCF model and sent it to an alum for feedback, or written investment commentary that people actually read, include it. If you led a nonprofit’s financial restructuring or automated a research task with code, describe the outcome in business terms. Show that you’ve taken ownership of real, ambiguous problems and produced results, not just followed instructions.

These signals of self-initiative, applied skill, and impact carry enormous weight. They’re what separates the top 1% from everyone else with a club title and a GPA.

Read: 10 Finance Internships for Freshmen in College

Bonus Section: Resume Red Flags That Get You Rejected

Certain things will almost immediately disqualify you in the eyes of a Goldman reviewer. A resume with no numbers tells them you can’t quantify value. Buzzwords like “team player” or “strategic thinker” say nothing about what you’ve done. A low GPA (under 3.3) isn’t a deal-breaker, but it needs to be offset with significant achievements or explained through your trajectory. Sloppy formatting, typos, or long lists of low-impact roles suggest a lack of focus. And listing every club you joined without leading or contributing to something tangible just dilutes your story.

How to Avoid the Finance Resume Template Trap

Finally, remember this: Goldman has seen thousands of candidates with nearly identical resumes. Finance Society VP. Case comp finalist. Internship at a regional bank. Modeled an LBO in class. These are not differentiators, they’re expected. What makes you stand out is what you’ve done with those experiences. Did you lead something? Change something? Build something new? Did you take an idea further than most people would?

That’s what gets attention. And that’s what shows them you’re not just ready to work at Goldman, but you’re already acting like someone who belongs there.

Here’s how to break the mold without gimmicks or fluff:

Show Them What’s Not on 99% of Finance Resumes

Goldman’s best hires often come from diverse, unconventional backgrounds, not just BBA pipelines. They’re looking for people who bring original perspectives and multidimensional thinking to the table.

Examples:

• Built a personal finance TikTok channel with 15k+ followers
• Taught yourself Mandarin and used it to analyze Chinese equity reports
• Researched immigration reform impacts on financial regulation
• Finished a triathlon while managing a part-time job and a full course load
• Led fundraising ops for a nonprofit and tripled donor retention

These details don’t replace core finance skills, but they make you memorable and show the kind of resilience, initiative, and creativity Goldman values in fast-paced teams.

Pro tip: Think like a product. What’s your unfair advantage? What do you offer that 99% of other applicants don’t?

Use the (Optional) Personal Statement to Tell a Strategic Story

If the application gives you a chance to write a short personal statement (300 words or less), don’t treat it like a cover letter.

Instead, use it to:

• Connect your past experiences to the specific division or role you’re applying to
• Explain how your background gives you a unique lens into the world of clients and capital
• Show evidence of alignment with Goldman Sachs’ culture: high standards, collaborative mindset, global thinking, and career-long development

Weak: “I want to work at Goldman Sachs to grow in investment banking.”Strong: “After building financial models for a nonprofit real estate project and pitching them to city investors, I saw firsthand how structured finance can shape urban development. At Goldman, I hope to sharpen that skillset while supporting clients through transformative transactions.”

Goldman Sachs Interview Process: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Landing a Goldman Sachs interview is an accomplishment, but it’s just the beginning. Each stage is intentionally designed to test your clarity under pressure, fit with the firm’s values, and readiness to create value on day one.

Here’s how to prepare like a future Goldman hire:

HireVue Interview (Behavioral)

What to expect:

• 4–6 questions (5 Behavioral, 1 Technical)
• 30 seconds to prepare
• 2 minutes to respond
• Recorded, not live

Top Goldman candidates don’t just answer behavioral questions well. They prove through their stories that they’ve already been operating at the level Goldman expects. When asked, “Tell me about a time you took initiative,” they don’t default to class projects or student org roles. Instead, they describe building a DCF model for a public company over winter break, cold-emailing it to alumni for feedback, and iterating based on what they learned. Or they talk about writing weekly macro updates for a 1,000-subscriber newsletter, tracking how their predictions held up, and refining their market thesis. These aren’t hypothetical achievements. They’re already doing the kind of analysis, communication, and ownership Goldman looks for.

In HireVue, your job isn’t just to check the STAR format. It’s to prove, through specifics, that you’ve seen a problem, acted on it without being asked, and produced a meaningful result. If you led a nonprofit’s financial restructuring, don’t just say you managed the budget. Say, “We were burning cash on redundant services. I rebuilt our expense model, negotiated with vendors, and freed up $15K we redirected into programming. That helped us triple donor engagement within a quarter.” That kind of self-directed impact turns a behavioral interview into a business conversation. It shows maturity, relevance, and readiness to contribute from day one, which is exactly what Goldman is screening for, even before Superday.

HackerRank Assessment (Engineering Roles Only)

What to Expect:

• Length: 60-90 minutes
• Questions: 3-5 technical problems
• Languages: Python, Java, C++, etc.
• Topics often include:
  • Coin change problem
  • Tree and graph traversal
  • Sliding window and dynamic programming
  • Time/space complexity optimization

For engineering candidates, the Goldman Sachs HackerRank is a high-stakes technical screen that tests far more than whether you can get the code to run. It’s designed to evaluate your algorithmic fluency, the clarity of your logic, and your ability to perform under extreme time constraints, mirroring the fast-paced, high-pressure environment you’d face on the job. The problems usually fall within the realm of algorithmic challenges (think LeetCode Medium-Hard or Codeforces Div 2), with a sharp eye toward how elegantly and efficiently you can solve them. They’re not just looking for a working solution; they’re evaluating how cleanly you structure your code, how robust your test cases are, and whether your logic generalizes well across edge cases.

To prepare at the top 1% level, you need to move beyond solving random problems and start pattern-matching like a systems-level thinker. Focus on mastering high-frequency patterns like dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, backtracking, sliding windows, and tree/graph traversal strategies. Build muscle memory around these structures so you can identify the right approach within seconds. Additionally, develop the habit of writing code that’s readable and testable: employ descriptive variable names, modularize logic, and comment with a purpose. One expert-level hack: practice "voice-walking" your logic under a timer as if you're whiteboarding live for an interviewer. This builds mental agility, reduces panic, and helps you catch bugs earlier. Goldman wants engineers who can think out loud, justify trade-offs, and write production-grade code under fire, which means you need to train accordingly.

Superday Interviews (Final Round)

What to expect:

• 2–5 back-to-back interviews
• 30 minutes each
• Interviewers: Analysts, Associates, VPs from the division you applied to
• Can be virtual or in-office

Superday is Goldman Sachs’ final filter, and it’s intentionally intense. You’ll face two to five back-to-back 30-minute interviews with a mix of Analysts, Associates, and often a VP or two from the division you applied to. These sessions might be virtual or in-office, but the stakes don’t change. Interviewers are assessing far more than technical fluency; they’re gauging how you think, how you carry yourself, and whether you’ll elevate the team. You’re expected to come in sharp on your financial or technical fundamentals, but also be ready to demonstrate judgment, curiosity, and commercial awareness. Expect to be challenged on real deals, macro trends, or product strategy. This is less about reciting the right answer and more about showing that you understand the business context and can think critically in real time.

To stand out, know your resume line by line. Be prepared to walk through a DCF from scratch, pitch a stock or product with conviction, and explain how you track and interpret market shifts. Bring two or three smart, division-specific questions to every interview, ones that show you’ve done more than skim headlines. Goldman doesn’t want echo chambers. They want analysts who form opinions, challenge ideas thoughtfully, and connect their own experience to business outcomes. The best candidates use past work to frame future thinking: “Here’s how I approached a similar challenge at XYZ, and here’s how I’d adapt that here.” What separates top performers is composure under pressure and the ability to show insight without ego. Superday isn’t just a skills test. It’s a pressure test for clarity, maturity, and team fit.

Expert Tip: Superday is a test of grit + polish. Can you think clearly on your feet? Stay composed under pressure? Show insight without arrogance?

Read: Investment Banking Interview Guide

What Happens After You’re In

Accepted interns receive onboarding, technical training, and mentorship from day one. You’ll be placed in a business division and assigned a daily coach and a senior sponsor to support your career development.

In 2024, the company brought on 2,600 interns from 475+ schools. They were placed across 45+ global offices, including New York, London, Mumbai, and Hong Kong.

This environment isn’t about shadowing. You’ll create actual value for clients, businesses, and teams, just like a full-time analyst.

Common Goldman Sachs Interview Questions for Summer Analysts

HireVue & Behavioral Round

Candidates who completed the HireVue confirm you’ll typically face 4–6 questions, with 30 seconds to prep and about 2 minutes to answer each:

• “Walk me through your resume.” Candidates say this is always first.
• “Tell me about a time you had to decline something and how it impacted you.”
• “Describe a time when you worked with someone who wasn’t contributing, and how you handled it.”
• Situational scenarios: “You’re negotiating a deal and the client makes a request that violates policy, what do you do?”

These behavioral questions are meant to test honesty, composure, and problem-solving under pressure, not just technical knowledge.

Final Superday Questions (On-Site or Virtual)

Glassdoor and financial career platforms list frequent Superday prompts for Summer Analysts:

• Why Goldman Sachs, and why this division?
• Walk me through your resume in detail.
• Explain a recent transaction or current event that interests you.
• What skills make you a strong candidate for this team?
• Tell me about a failure or a challenging situation and how you handled it.
• Give an example of leadership or teamwork in action.
• How do you stay updated on financial markets?

Wellsourced behavioral questions also include:

• “What would you do if you submitted a report and later discovered an error no one had caught?”
• “How would you handle a friend cheating on an exam?” (tests ethical standards)

Final Thoughts: How to Land the Offer

To land an offer at Goldman Sachs, you have to understand how they hire. It’s not just about raw intelligence or credentials; it’s about whether you show up like someone who could create value on day one. Your resume should look like it belongs in a stack of incoming analysts: clean, quantified, and tailored to your target division. That means using language the team uses internally (“LBO,” “market commentary,” “client trade execution”) and proving you’ve already done the kind of work that mirrors Goldman’s world: modeling companies, analyzing macro trends, and building systems that scale. Submitting early is non-negotiable. The process is rolling, and candidates who apply within the first few days are often screened before the latecomers even hit the portal.

In the interview process, especially the Superday, you need to move past formulaic answers and show how you think under pressure. Be able to talk through a DCF, dissect a deal you found interesting, or pitch a stock with conviction and nuance. But also be prepared to connect the dots between your experience and the specific value Goldman creates for its clients. Great candidates build an argument for why they’d succeed in the seat. They show maturity, global awareness, commercial instincts, and coachability. If you walk into every stage of the process not just hoping to impress, but ready to contribute, you’ll stand out. At Goldman, they’re hiring future client-facing professionals. The sooner you start acting like one, the more inevitable your offer becomes.

Want Personalized Resume Help or Interview Coaching?

Leland has expert coaches, including former Goldman Sachs professionals, who can review your resume, run mock Superday sessions, and help you tailor your application to specific positions. Work with a top coach here.

Read these next:

• How to Break Into Investment Banking–What to Do From Freshman to Senior Year
• What Do Investment Banks Actually Do?
• The Top 10 Investment Banks – By Size & Tier
• Investment Banking Coffee Chat Guide: Questions, Topics, Tips, & How to Prepare

FAQs

How to get selected for the Goldman Sachs summer internship?

• Academic Excellence: Strong academic performance is crucial. Candidates often have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, particularly in relevant fields such as finance, economics, mathematics, or related disciplines.
• Analytical Skills: Interns should demonstrate strong analytical and quantitative abilities. This includes proficiency in data analysis, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
• Technical Skills: Depending on the role, familiarity with financial modeling, statistical analysis, and software tools (like Excel, SQL, or programming languages such as Python) can be highly beneficial.
• Communication Skills: Effective verbal and written communication skills are essential for collaborating with teams and presenting ideas clearly.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Goldman Sachs values candidates who can work well in teams, demonstrate leadership potential, and contribute positively to group dynamics.
• Interest in Finance: A genuine interest in the financial services industry and a strong understanding of market trends and economic principles are important. Candidates should be able to articulate their interest in Goldman Sachs specifically.
• Internship or Work Experience: Previous internships or relevant work experience can set candidates apart. This experience should ideally be in finance, consulting, or other analytical roles.
• Cultural Fit: Goldman Sachs assesses candidates for alignment with their corporate culture, which emphasizes integrity, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence.
• Networking and Initiative: Demonstrating proactive networking efforts and a willingness to seek out information about the firm and the industry can also be advantageous.

How hard is it to get a summer internship at Goldman Sachs?

• The Goldman Sachs internship program is highly competitive, and in 2022, Business Insider reported that Goldman Sachs received a record-high 236,000 applicants from around the world. Due to the high volume, it's expected that companies such as Goldman cut the majority of applicants during the resume screening.

How much do summer interns make at Goldman Sachs?

• The estimated total pay range for a Summer Intern at Goldman Sachs is $58K–$97K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average summer intern's base salary at Goldman Sachs is $69K per year.

Is Goldman Sachs harder than Harvard?

• It's harder to get into Goldman Sachs than it is to get into Harvard. Even the chief executive, David Solomon, was rejected by the bank twice, before finally making it past the velvet rope in 1999, he revealed.

What GPA do you need for Goldman Sachs?

• Aim for a GPA of 3.5 or higher to meet Goldman Sachs' academic standards and stand out in the screening process. Gain internships and practical experience in finance, economics, or related fields to bolster your application.