Cheers yaknow and twinkl
I got my summer internship through my own direct applications. I was in touch with SEO to try and find me an alternative grad scheme as I didn't like the firm where I worked - they failed to do that and I managed to get another grad offer through my own applications and networking. SEO isn't helpful AT ALL! You should have applied yourself.
This year, due to a lack of grad opportunities, almost everyone has applied for internships (incl people who are in their final year, recent graduates and even people doing their masters). Most summer internship offers have been extended to successful candidates (majority) - GS(interviewing all candidates they are interested in now), JPM (they told everyone incl recent grads to apply for summer), BAML (they finished mid - Jan), UBS ( they tend to start as early as Sept and finish by December), Barcap, MS and Citi(I know people getting offers by November for various roles).
SEO has left a lot of people from my uni hanging dry as well. I have spoken to the SEO office and they said all pending recommendation chances look extremely minimal.
Sorry to break this to you. Wish you luck and success with 'individual' applications.