Undergraduate Major
Hello, I'm in my freshman year in college in Hong Kong studying social sciences. Can I break into IB with my current major? If not, should I change my major now, or later when I go to graduate school? Thanks in advance!
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I'm not entirely sure about how IB works in HK, but I've met people in the UK who have studied degrees like theology, geography and international relations and they broke into IB at top BB banks without a problem. If you enjoy studying social sciences stay in your degree!
Hi there! Yes I don't necessarily see studying something not related to finance/economics/accounting stops someone breaking into IB. However, beside studying social science, one should also take mathematics/statistics courses I assume? Since on job qualifications I often see quantitative analytical skills are required.
To be honest I don't think IB requires a very advanced maths/stats knowledge. High school level maths is more than enough. I've never integrated or differentiated anything since I started lol. Having a basic (but accurate) understanding of stats (and when I say stats I just refer to percentages) is pretty much all you need
I think you could argue human behaviour in its social and cultural aspects gives you an understanding of how people might do things and affect the market.
I think if you are absolutely sure you want to go into IB you’d want to be doing something that show you have a genuine interest in that industry with a degree that matches or would be useful in IB, Finance, Economics, Mathematics analytical data. That sort of thing.
I have heard about people with non relavent degree getting in but you need to question how many of these people knew or had connections in the industry already. If you have connections you have a chance with what ever degree you have.
I’ll say this. If your not absolutely sure about finishing social science that’s only going to grow over the years. Better to switch if you have doubt’s about it in the long term. It depends on whether you enjoy it. 
Thanks for the reply!
I disagree, around 50% of interns study something that isn't related to finance at all these days... really don't think 50% are going to have meaningful connections.
Really it’s that high 50%, I’m quite surprised. Well I’ll admit when I’m wrong, connections are playing apart even if it’s not as high as I thought.
Thank you
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