Too early to network?
I am currently a senior in high school and will be going to either University of Georgia Ohio State or Florida State ( I know, all non-targets) to major in Finance. I spend a lot of my free time researching how to break into Investment banking and general info on “high finance”. The one thing that is preached over and over on this site and many others is the importance of networking, is it too soon for me to start? Will bankers even respond to someone still in high school? How do I create a LinkedIn profile with no real job history? Also, if you have any advice for someone in my position for things I can do now to increase my chances later on I would appreciate it.
Yes - way to early. Best thing you can do is try to get into a better college. Also want to place some emphasis on the early part.
Okay, this is what I was thinking but I was told by someone on another website to go ahead and start and I was definitely skeptical. As far as getting into another college I probably won’t be able to considering I only have a 3.7 and haven’t been able to take the SAT. Will probably transfer to Emory from UGA if I can. Any other general advice for me?
so you will go to UGA...
Read books, look at Bloomberg, WSJ, FT or CNBC daily, teach yourself accounting 101, purchase a good suit but setting up a linkedin is going to get you laughed at. Channel your energy into hitting the ground running once you enter college and join the relevant clubs that alumni in banking were in. You have the right mentality but you come across as a crackhead that needs your daily fix of fuhnance to get you through the day or you will die.
Not a good look to be that overeager hardo that can not read the room.
I completely agree. Any good book recommendations?
Financial Modeling and Valuation: A Practical Guide to Investment Banking and Private Equity
Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers and Acquisitions
BIWS/WSO guides
Valuation (koller, Goedhart, Wessels)
if you care enough about your career this early on, why didn't you bother to get into a good school?
It’s not that I don’t “bother” getting into a better school- it’s that I can’t I’m a good student overall but I don’t have the GPA to get into places like UPENN and Harvard who have 10% acceptance rates. Obviously if I could get into a better school I would, but I can’t go back and change my grades from earlier on in high school.
Hey, having gone through the transfer process in the past year with less than ideal HS results, a target school is still definitely within your reach! When admissions considers a transfer app, there's a lot more weight placed on college GPA and essays than on high school grades. If you focus on a getting a perfect/near perfect GPA at whichever university you end up at, and are able to demonstrate a compelling reason to transfer through essays, than you've got a great shot at Georgetown/Vanderbilt/Northwestern type schools.
If you got into UGA business school, would look carefully at their placement. I see a lot of alums at BBs and it's a fun school.
No use in people telling you to get into a better school unless you're seriously thinking of transferring. You're not completely out of luck at those schools. Get involved in finance clubs, other hobbies (having a resume with nothing but finance on it is not good either, be well-rounded) and connect with the investment banking reps at the career center early on. Get an internship freshman summer and start networking sophomore fall. Networking now is a faux pas honestly, just too hardo.
you threw ms at me yet i am entirely correct. OP go apply to other schools, you still have a fuckton of time
I didn't MS you, agree transferring is best option but GA is still an okay school if he doesn't want to.
This you, Analyst 2 in IB - Restr?
I am applying to other schools and doing all that I can, my GPA at a 3.7 is just too low to get into the target schools like UPENN NYU Harvard and Cornell. If I had the stats to get into those schools I would, but those just aren’t in the cards for me right now.
Are you referring to the masters or undergrad business school?
Rock your first year, think perfect 4.0, then transfer to a target.
There will be plenty of time to network, read the WSJ and learn about finance. Just get perfect 1st year stats and transfer, the rest will take care of itself.
ohio state has quite good banking placement nowadays. (relative to other non targets of course)
florida also has a good 4 year Ug + MSF program which places OK as well
can’t speak to UGA but overall decent school
I tried to find schools were at least decent at IB but none that I can get into will be great. UGA also has the “Corsair society” which is all about IB and a student- run hedge fund.
osu has a dedicated banking program. i would pick them of all those listed here. look into fisher futures
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