D1 Varsity Athlete in College
How much does it help to be a varsity track athlete at a D1, top 10 UNSWR school when it comes to IBanking? I like the sport, so I'm not doing it for ib interviews, but how much will something like that help my resume?
Thanks
Varsity D1 sports are always a good thing.
I think it added several ticks to my sub-par GPA, and I was D-3.
Unless the name on your resume says "Usain Bolt..."
D1 helps, but track won't help you as much as a team sport like football, lacrosse, basketball, baseball etc. Definitely stress work ethic, drive etc
Which sport is the most prestigious?
Deleted
Lacrosse, baby.
As far as sports that will help you get in generally, I would say Lacrosse on East Coast and Water Polo on West Coast.
Most prestigious though is probably something like Stanford Football or Duke Basketball (that is, nationally ranked, high-viewer sport teams at elite Universities).
Alright thanks guys! So it will help but only to a small extent?
How useful are varsity sports? (Originally Posted: 09/09/2014)
Hey guys,
I have a very good chance of making it to the top men's heavyweight 8 rowing team of my region (West Europe). Rowing is well known here, and it's very competitive. Training will be 8x a week or more. I enjoy it, but it consumes a lot of time and there are other extracurriculars that I also enjoy and would boost my resume (and would need to be dropped for rowing). There is a decent chance that I can row european/world championship/oly level in 1-2 years according to the coach, who is a former olympic coach.
My question is: If I want into break MBB management consulting, will I get a benefit from rowing at a very high level or is it a waste of time? It makes getting high grades harder for sure. I currently have good grades and solid internships. I have also done national level sports in high school.
It will help get you noticed and set you apart for sure.
However it's not necessary by any means, so if you're only interested in that kind of commitment because of a better show at MBB it's not worth the effort.
I'll answer your question with a question: do you enjoy rowing? I mean the actual sport of it, not waking up at zero dark thirty to go row in what seems like freezing water while being yelled at by your coach after a night boozing it up at a pub, do you enjoy the sport? If yes, do it. If not, don't. sports require too much effort for you to be into it for any reason other than passion.
I've had insane health issues for the first 19 years off my life that evaporated only when I turned 20. Constant headaches, and 4-48 hour migraine attacks 3 or 4 days a week average. Despite this I managed to do national level sports, though I never qualified for the very top (european/WC). I have a chance at that with rowing, but I know that working out that hard, that often, will hurt my grades and make it so that I will not do much else but rowing. It's not rowing that puts a smile on my face, it's more that I long for the feeling of a victory with 500+ people cheering you on and that I want to take my athletics to the next level now that I am physically capable of doing so.
I will continue to train with the selection for the next 4 weeks and see if I can secure an offer. By then, assuming I get an offer, I will have a better idea of whether I enjoy rowing enough to drop everything else for it.
European/World Championship/Olympic level at any sport is a pretty rare opportunity. I wouldn't give that up just to put something else on your resume
The more relevant question is, how many more panties will drop?
Save your time and go play club lax.
Varsity Athletics (Originally Posted: 12/28/2010)
I know being a Varsity athlete helps to a degree, but I was wondering whether being, say, one of the better teams in a competitive league helps your chances. I'm currently in one of the top 5 rowing teams in the nation and was wondering whether this would be more impressive than your run of the mill athlete.
The only crew teams that matter are ivies because there is very strong alumni base
Wisconsin, bu, northeastern, Washington are all fantastic programs but just don't have the alumni critical mass - if I were you I would get busy getting in touch with folks who rowed 5-10 years ago - they will be of great help
I'd say it's only marginally better than a being merely decent athlete. I know nothing about rowing, but a lacrosse player from UVA - a top program - isn't going to get a recruiting edge over someone from Dartmouth or another middle-of-the-pack program.
rowing will def give you an edge if you are from the right school (Ivy league)
I'm also on a top crew team, however my school is a complete non-target. Being on a top 5 team is only helpful if you can get your resume looked at..
We aren't Ivy League but we are well known as one of the few good non-ivy teams that compete in the ivies' division, and we are a target (some would consider us a semi target). Our main competition is HYP
I'm also in the EARC, wondering if we might go to the same school?
You've got yourselves a coxswain here...
not a coxswain :P still not terribly good though, bow seat
Haha I meant that I'm a coxswain :)
Athletes in REIT Banking (Originally Posted: 11/15/2015)
Retracted.
Just wondering, how is something rather individualistic like fencing viewed?
Let's be real--95% (at least) of college athletes aren't making the pros. If your gpa is borderline or weak (
Athlete to IB (Originally Posted: 06/27/2014)
Trading likes athletes, as far as the rest goes I'm sure someone can help you out.
I have to agree with the people you've been talking to - an MBA could be very helpful here. A good GMAT, and you're pretty much set.
Every good investment bank has former college/pro athletes working there, and for reasons I don't need to explain here.
Pretty cool to hear that you were pro once. What team did you play for if you don't mind me asking?
I don't really want to give myself away but let's just say it was an east coast team.
welcome
College Athletics (Originally Posted: 09/25/2013)
I am a senior at a non-target, but one of the top liberal arts schools. I am a swimmer on my college team, which necessitates 20+ hours of practice/commitments a week. Unfortunately my GPA is approximately 3.0... Does being a four year college athlete of this caliber increase the status of my resume or is this somewhat trivial at this point?
Of course it increases the status of your resume - but whether or not it is enough to overcome the GPA is another question which depends on a number of other factors, most importantly being the industry which you want break into. Was the school D1? Does it have a big fan base?
The smartest thing you could do at this point (as your grades cant be changed) is find out if either (i) your swim team or (ii) or sports teams have had anyone break into the industry you want to get into. Reach out to these people (mentioning you are currently an athlete at their alma mater) and ask to meet them. Networking is the most effective way around subpar grades.
Will having swam during college help you in an IB job for example? Only you know the answer, but if you communicate with recruiters it could help make up somewhat for your GPA
If youre at an LAC then I assume its D3. D3 swimming isnt exactly "sexy" so it probably wont jump out to recruiters and suggest they ignore your gpa, but it could help you network as others mentioned.
Ivies are all D1, other LACs mostly D3.
Does anyone know which Ivies are non-target? perhaps depends on bank?
FYI...I was a college athlete with a modest gpa. It served as a talking point in many interviews but more importantly I made sure I had everything else air tight.
Not to be a downer but definitely follow the networking advice- I know someone who is a starting player on the football team at a D1 non-target/semi-target (and huge football school) who has a GPA of 3.9.....he told me about an internship he didn't get because they gave it to an athlete of a similar calibre at a better school yet- while it's obviously possible to get the kind of job you want in your situation, there are candidates out there (granted, not many) who are in similar situations at schools that are more targeted for these jobs with much stronger grades. Just posting this to show you who you could be up against- it's good that you're trying to overcome your GPA issue, and good luck!
Advice for Athletes (Originally Posted: 11/08/2007)
Hey,
I was wondering if you guys could help me out. Im an athlete (football) at a major State School in the Midwest. Im interested in I-Banking, I was wondering how common it is for athletes to get into I-Banking. Im a double major in Accy/Fin (3.9+ GPA) but I don’t have any previous summer experience bc of summer practice etc. I dont have any leadership experience or involvement in any organizations other than football. 30+ hours a week of practice makes it almost impossible to do something outside of school, practice and girls/party etc.
How do recruiters look at athletes? How do other athletes do it, ie get involved, summer experience etc?
Thx
Im a junior btw...
..
for alumni athlete. athletes are usually perceived VERY well on wall street.
Find other athletes at the firms you want to go to, easy way to start networking. Try to find an alum from your team too, you'd be in like flint if you could.
I'm pretty sure playing football is better than having an internship. It helps a lot.
Why did you capitalize "State School?"
network with alumni. primarily athletes from your school and ideally those who played your sport.
you're after a summer spot, so if you act fast, you can get ahead of the game.
ask your coach/ad people for leads. with your GPA you are a very strong candidate, assuming we're not talking Kent State. If this is Mich/Wisc/etc, you'll be fine.
network with alumni. primarily athletes from your school and ideally those who played your sport.
you're after a summer spot, so if you act fast, you can get ahead of the game.
ask your coach/ad people for leads. with your GPA you are a very strong candidate, assuming we're not talking Kent State. If this is Mich/Wisc/etc, you'll be fine.
Because im a dumnb fucking athlete you idiot, keep in mind that I always can beet you up
you really should quote who you are responding to as to not turn off the others who have offered good advice. also, i believe you meant "beat" not "beet".
With such an attitude, you can forget about wall street. Doesn't matter whether you are an athlete, you must first learn how to spell, and oh, eat humble pie. You know how analysts are oftentimes treated by those above them, right?
LOL.
lol kent state
kent read, kent write, kent state is apparently the saying
just network with alumni athletes, if your talking about OSU, they should have a few people on wall street
What position, bbballer?
I understand not wanting to give away what school...but I'm sure position is not to much.
Just curious. Football is the greatest sport on Earth.
I know this particular athlete - All American, BCS Conference Championships, First Round NFL Draft, College and Conference Hall of Fame, MBA, Wall St Trader. Now that's life.
look into trading. it's full of ex-athletes.
Thx for the advice guys, and sorry about that mark klein MD.
Why did the dude leave the NFL for Wall St....wtf...
career ending injury?
Things just didn't pan out. Team philosophy changed, etc. As a rookie, lot of the development depends on how the team uses you, etc. i.e. throwing a QB in the game first year with no protection or trying to fit him in a different style of offense always hurts.
CEO of global real estate (buy-side) @ JPM is an ex-harvard football player, ex-buffalo bills.
How about the athletes in sports other than football or basketball ... like tennis, soccer, and swimming. Are they still looked highly upon in the recruiting process for Wall Street?
If you are a D1 Varsity athlete, it definitely makes a difference. In my experience, former athletes (whatever sport it may be) tend to look on other athletes favorably, no matter what the sport. I know I do.
BB's are full of athletes
You have alot of time to swing things your way: they key will be interviewing for this summer: do everything the people above have mentioned to break into a summer analyst position, preferably at a BB.
-cold-call alums -send emails out -do whatever it takes
I know "athlete" is a vague concept in Europe since sports aren't organized the way they are organized in the US, but does anyone know if recruiters in Europe look more favorably at people who are involved in organized sports?
Being even a D-3 varsity athlete helps. I know it helped me land my consulting and PE gigs.
Along the way, you no doubt will run into some senior guy who played your sport, and you can spend the interview reminiscing and bonding.
I shoot hoops in the driveway with Grandma and I did beat some JV kid in HORSE once. What are my chances on the STREET?
How highly recognized are athletics? (Originally Posted: 06/01/2012)
I've been following the site for some time and really enjoy the feedback and information thats flows through here on a daily basis. I'd like to get some of your thoughts on a particular situation I am currently facing.
Coming out of high school I was recruited by a number of big schools to play football. I passed on the opportunity to play in the Ivy League and instead chose to accept a scholarship to a much bigger and more athletically competitive school.
With that being said, every summer was fully dedicated to football and we were required to be at school for the majority of the time, leaving me no time for an internship, job, etc. I had a solid academic career with just under a 3.1 GPA while double majoring and joining the track team as well.
I am currently looking to break into the world of banking/finance. I live close to NYC and have grown up surrounded by people involved in this field and have been intrigued by the industry for some time. I know I have gone down a much different path than the majority of people on this site and quite honestly, I'm not as academically gifted as many of you. I am though, very intelligent and actually see this disadvantage as somewhat of a strength for me.
I was really just interested to hear some of your opinions on athletes in this industry. As stated earlier, I'll never blow you away with my grades but I am fairly accomplished in other areas of my life. Does this pose an advantage/disadvantage to me? Thoughts?
Thanks for the feedback in advance.
It is a strong talking point that can display confidence in interviews, a quality that that you seem to possess. You may want to focus on breaking into something sales related, if that interests you. I am also working with a lower GPA, in the same range as yours, but I felt that my ability to talk and demonstrate my work ethic (talking about consistent employment throughout high school and college) really helped earn my internship for this summer.
Your athletic commitments will truly pay off though if you network through your team. Talk to your coaches and try to reach out to team alumni that work on the street. Ask them about how they broke into their careers and if they can offer any advice. A bunch of my friends play on the lacrosse team at my school, and they have a ton of guys that land great jobs through alumni networking each year.
Team sports develop skills that are very useful in finance, so athletics are definitely a plus. That being said, being on the football team with a 3.1 doesn't equal a 4.0 with no athletics. You are going to need a very solid narrative about why you are "accomplished".
The first thing that popped out for me brought up a red flag - you joined the track team even though your GPA is 3.1. Doesn't it make sense to use that extra time studying to bring your grades up? That move signals a lack of judgment. (Sorry to be so blunt - just trying to help.)
Also, don't think that just because you don't think you meet some threshold of intelligence that you perceive in others that you can't get the same grades as them. I've known downright stupid people who have graduated with a 4.0 just because they ate, slept, and breathed their coursework for four years.
There are many different paths people can take - check out this guy who graduated with a civil engineering degree (the "loser" engineering degree), worked as an engineer for a year, became a minor league pitcher, went back to engineering for a year, got an MBA, switched to a corporate analyst role for a year, then went to a MM boutique IB. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-dalton/4/35/145
Good luck.
OP Did you go to school in the Big Ten? I'm just wondering because I did and I got an IB job at a MM without D1 athletics.
I am thinking you should leverage your strength and try to build relationships with other D1 football players in the industry. Pound the pavement and setup informational interviews with former players who will meet with you to talk. Living in close proximity to NYC is very helpful.
OP - here's the question... where you playing at an FCS School or an FBS School. That is a huge issue. If you played FBS, I wouldn't sweat it. If you played FCS, I would network with your school's alumni that are on Wall Street. You'll have a better shot at breaking in like that then relying on your D1 Sports background alone. Yes, D1 Sports are great and you can spin it fantastically, but part of the draw - especially with football - is brand recognition and that FBS/FCS issue is a big one.
My only concern for you is that you may be too strong for your office.
He's no Terry Tate. I guarantee it...
http://www.youtube.com/embed/J8702Im2P18
Thanks for the responses, everything you guys have said is very helpful.
808- I joined the track team because it was fun! I agree with you 100%, grades are always first and foremost. Although I have a long career in front of me but in reality, how may more opportunities will I have to compete at that level again? We only live once!
The subject of the whole FCS/FBS is a very interesting one. While I do not play in the Big Ten, I have played several schools in the big ten. You are very right, I think a school's brand recognition is highly valuable in terms of recruitment and respect in general for that matter.
athletics and EC (Originally Posted: 06/11/2007)
How much weight do EC's carry on one's resume/application coming from a non-target? People on this board often refer to having good EC's, so with that said:
What constitutes a good or impressive EC besides being a division 1 athlete? I'm assuming club leadership roles don't go very far with the banks...correct me if I'm wrong.
I am partly asking because my GPA is below being stellar or competitive (will probably be around 3.6), and I am trying to decide what EC's to be involved with in the fall. Either one takes up a lot of time and have the possibility of compromising school work, so I want to pick one that will be most beneficial for the time I put into it. I am considering either joining a frat or a club sports team at my school. My state school is not that big on varsity sports, but we have a lot of club teams that are pretty decent. I played a few sports in high school, so getting on one of these club teams shouldn't be a problem.
And just a footnote: I generally don't like people that do EC's solely for the purpose of resume-building--but I do enjoy the sport that I would play and I would not mind joining a fraternity. Any input?
If you join a frat, make it one with a strong network. If you do a sport, it probably won't matter good or bad to the interviewer unless you do some kind of odd sport which he also did in college (like Hai Lai or Water Polo).
Find your local investment club and see if you can contribute there. President of any investment interest club is probably one of the best ECs to have.
Thanks for the input albatrosslee, I'm already involved in the equivalent of an investment interest club at my school (not the President =/ but an officer nonetheless). The frat I was looking at was one of the top 5 largest I believe.
When it comes down to it, as I mentioned earlier, is the most efficient use of my time. I would have to put a lot of time into either one of the above 2 mentioned EC's, so I just want to know if they are worth it, OR whether I should just forget about those EC's and just get another internship during the school year.
Keep in mind, I am a rising junior so this upcoming interview season is crucial.
Is editor of the campus paper's sports section a good EC? That's about my only one because it's such a huge time commitment (40 hrs. a week).
I think school ECs tend to add very little to a resume. Everyone has done "something" and they are all pretty much equivalent whether you played intramurals or were in student government. I also do not suggest joining a frat unless you -really- want to.
I think the only way to truly stand out is to go way above and beyond. If you weren't the one who actually started the soccer league, I don't think it adds much that you were a part of it. If you aren't up for the task of starting anew, being an officer is the next best thing. Whatever you do, don't do nothing.
I'm really surprised by that...it's not a "school" EC. It's not a high school paper -- it's a fully-independent college paper. I would have figured that it would show that one could work hard (like I said, at least 40 hours a week out of school hours), leadership skills, writing skills (this post notwithstanding), and organizational skills. It's not like playing intramural hockey 12 hours a week or being a secretary in student government...I'm offended that you would lump it in with those, but if that's how IBs see it, then I guess there's nothing I can do. Any other opinions?
If you're spending 40 hours a week doing something meaningful besides school work, it's definitely going to help you in interviews. First, it will give you something to talk about during the interview, and second, and more importantly, banks like to see that people have a lot of extra time commitments in addition to your schoolwork. You can use it to discuss time management etc.
Athletics does carry weight with IB firms. It doesn't matter what skill level or what division. What does matter is time committment, team work and the ability to manage one's time among several activities.
Frats are a great tool.
I joined one with a large national alumni base (top 3 or so #'s wise in the country) but it was also small enough locally to allow me to hold several exec positions.
Any position will help, but try for a treasurer/vp finance role, or a pres/vp pos.
If utilized properly, frats can be a great resume builder.
I hope to god people arent joining frats solely due to their "employment networks" post graduation. Quite possibly the worst reason to join a frat.
Sorry to shatter your dreams, but with 3.6 non target and this ridiculous list of potential ECs to add to your CV and probably no IB internship you do not even have the slightest chance to make it to an IB interview (not to even mention an offer). Much easier for you to accept that and find your passion elsewhere.
Fraternity experiences are awesome if you are a leader in it (social chair, VP, President).
Fraternities aren't that they used to be - a national fraternity base doesn't matter very much (unlike several decades ago). Don't join a frat based on alumni network. Do it based on having a fun time and meeting new people.
I think everyone would agree that holding a leadership in a fraternity displays strong social skills, leadership abilities, and the ability to be well-liked. However, there are many other ways to do this.
Hihi, funny how my post gets ignored. You are all so busy with your next step that you don't see that the way leads to nowhere. To land in IB you basically need ivy 3.6+, IB internship and at least one other flashy, glittering thing (that's the same at McK where I initially come from). I didn't want to be rude, but your trying is really a waste of time. But of course good luck
TomTom, I agree with you, I don't want this kid to go through pledging just to get into IB lol...and it sounds like he might actually.
But yeah, in reality, for a good shot you need to be at one of the following schools: Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, Duke, Chicago, Northwestern and a few others...even then, you'd need a solid GPA above or around ~3.7, relevant interships, leadership experience.
From a state school, I would strongly suggest looking at smaller financial firms to get a somewhat relevant internship (Private Wealth Management or so) and then working your way up. It is a tough road either way.
ThoughtMan, and I agree with you:-) The guy should try to land a job at a boutique or whatever else as long as it is front office. Don't get yourself into the trap of middle/backoffice in BB. You will never get out again.
FYI, although I appreciate the help and comments, I do have IB internship experience. I interned at a boutique IB bank last year. From the few friends at my school that have made it into IB and from this forum, I am already well aware of the difficulty and perhaps impossibility (for the remainder of my undergrad at least) of getting in.
With that said, it doesn't mean I'm going to give up. I just want to do everything possible to help boost my chances. I figured EC's are a must, so I'm trying to decide between doing sports, frat, or getting another finance related internship. And by no means do I think that either of these alone are my ticket in.
Nam veritatis est pariatur pariatur blanditiis esse. Dolorum architecto occaecati aspernatur et qui. Dicta quos nobis minus excepturi dolorem cumque exercitationem sint. Voluptatem esse fuga unde ullam. Reiciendis similique qui unde sapiente dicta molestias quia.
Rem optio qui adipisci sed nihil assumenda. Temporibus ab fuga minima quis et voluptate magnam. A aliquid cum ut quae vero. Est voluptas recusandae ea et aut pariatur nihil.
Error quia alias dolorum. Sit consequatur quia est iure. Omnis exercitationem impedit magni eos ratione. Eius labore et dolorem minus. Cumque in rem et sequi quis dolor. Quia esse recusandae est consequuntur eligendi non.
Recusandae delectus minus doloribus quos quidem sint. Deserunt est omnis harum veritatis numquam corporis. Inventore eligendi illum aut in eligendi. Non quam quaerat omnis magni. Illum quia nobis cumque voluptate quae similique eius consequatur. Et ducimus molestias est rerum ullam recusandae. Ex sit praesentium quia nostrum aspernatur eligendi.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Quis voluptas laborum repellat officiis. Quo esse ipsum et fuga et cum sit. Natus dolores fuga accusamus voluptatem recusandae dolorum. Illum nihil non alias perspiciatis.
Exercitationem aut porro est voluptatem. Eaque quia ut molestiae repellat nobis deserunt officiis. Voluptatum vero laboriosam est. Consequatur sed sed aut doloremque.
Qui sed et nisi modi libero temporibus. Pariatur aut expedita ipsum unde. Officia neque nostrum eius qui. Corporis et qui cum ducimus. Provident reiciendis eum in consequatur. Quaerat facere ea ex nulla alias.
Aut mollitia est dicta iste. Excepturi fugit qui animi qui. Eum unde et quos voluptas vitae perferendis. Eius eos voluptas molestiae et excepturi dolor ut voluptate. Qui tempora unde ullam. Eum accusantium dolore labore et vitae deleniti dolorem.
Iusto maxime sed commodi consequatur qui et suscipit. Aut quis ut non aut non aspernatur voluptatem et. Atque libero voluptatem aspernatur qui facilis libero. Similique doloribus voluptas aut et animi consequuntur. Expedita quis aut deleniti corporis omnis minima. Ratione et quod fuga ut.
Quia dolores officiis qui molestiae ut fuga sit eaque. Laborum adipisci vel ab officiis ut temporibus. Quae laborum aut et. Temporibus quam autem accusantium culpa.
Repellat quae tempora exercitationem excepturi minus. Necessitatibus delectus itaque totam maxime. Quia eligendi veniam suscipit vel.
Et harum eos in rerum modi voluptatem voluptate. Consequatur minus nisi quia voluptas quia iste omnis. Aut et officiis vel tempora.
Omnis voluptates dolor laudantium atque ex. Dolore voluptatem pariatur fugiat. Eos quas in illo voluptates modi qui ipsa.
Perferendis ut quas cupiditate distinctio unde dolor qui. Molestiae tempora ducimus doloribus illo. Itaque est id id aut atque rerum quia dignissimos.
Distinctio cum qui vel vel laudantium. Est ea animi quia dolorem porro temporibus qui rerum. Necessitatibus modi enim et nihil quam debitis illo laboriosam. Aut asperiores ducimus non eum blanditiis quas est ut. Aut vel et sed. Non nostrum laboriosam pariatur consequuntur.