Any Reputable Designations that are Attainable Without a BA/Work Experience?
IB
(Chimp, -51,374
Points)
on 7/23/12 at 1:21pm
Title says it all,
I'm taking my year before university off and want to do something worthwhile. I'm interested in getting a known designation, but all the ones I look at require a BA or ~2 years of work experience.
I was wondering if anyone knows of some designations that don't require a BA/work experience. That, or any designations that let me complete exams without having a BA, as I can do the work experience in later years.
Thanks!





The only reputable/worthwhile
The only reputable/worthwhile ones require work experience and / or a college degree. I'm thinking CFA, FRM, CAIA. Those cover a pretty wide array of industries.
If you're looking for something to do in your gap year, complete a course on Excel/PowerPoint so you know advanced functions, then do a financial modeling course from WSP or Factset. Additionally, learn a language and if you have the opportunity, do an internship or development/immersion program somewhere.
That's what I'd have done, if I could go back and do it over with a gap year. Designations are mainly for people in industry; getting them during senior year of college is already very early. There's is absolutely no need for you to pursue one after high school.
FSC: The only
The only reputable/worthwhile ones require work experience and / or a college degree. I'm thinking CFA, FRM, CAIA. Those cover a pretty wide array of industries.
If you're looking for something to do in your gap year, complete a course on Excel/PowerPoint so you know advanced functions, then do a financial modeling course from WSP or Factset. Additionally, learn a language and if you have the opportunity, do an internship or development/immersion program somewhere.
That's what I'd have done, if I could go back and do it over with a gap year. Designations are mainly for people in industry; getting them during senior year of college is already very early. There's is absolutely no need for you to pursue one after high school.
Thank you for your reply. I looked into all three of the aforementioned. CAIA will let me take the exams without having a BA or work experience, but says that I need to fulfil the work experience component, as well as the BA, within 5 years of completing the level II exam. I'll take your recommendations and will put off designations for the time being.
I have an internship working at a VC firm lined up but that's not nearly long enough to take up my entire gap year. I will definitely look into getting something else, hopefully in investment banking. Problem is I'm a complete beginner. If I completed a course on Excel/Powerpoint and learned financial modeling would I be paid internship ready at an investment bank as an analyst?
Do you have any recommendations for the Excel/Powerpoint courses?
How does this course from WSP look? -- http://www.wallstreetprep.com/programs/self_study/...
I was thinking about Arabic, Latin, or Mandarin.
Extensity: FSC: The only
The only reputable/worthwhile ones require work experience and / or a college degree. I'm thinking CFA, FRM, CAIA. Those cover a pretty wide array of industries.
If you're looking for something to do in your gap year, complete a course on Excel/PowerPoint so you know advanced functions, then do a financial modeling course from WSP or Factset. Additionally, learn a language and if you have the opportunity, do an internship or development/immersion program somewhere.
That's what I'd have done, if I could go back and do it over with a gap year. Designations are mainly for people in industry; getting them during senior year of college is already very early. There's is absolutely no need for you to pursue one after high school.
Thank you for your reply. I looked into all three of the aforementioned. CAIA will let me take the exams without having a BA or work experience, but says that I need to fulfil the work experience component, as well as the BA, within 5 years of completing the level II exam. I'll take your recommendations and will put off designations for the time being.
I have an internship working at a VC firm lined up but that's not nearly long enough to take up my entire gap year. I will definitely look into getting something else, hopefully in investment banking. Problem is I'm a complete beginner. If I completed a course on Excel/Powerpoint and learned financial modeling would I be paid internship ready at an investment bank as an analyst?
Do you have any recommendations for the Excel/Powerpoint courses?
How does this course from WSP look? -- http://www.wallstreetprep.com/programs/self_study/...
I was thinking about Arabic, Latin, or Mandarin.
I think so. You sound advanced, or at least conscientious of what you're getting into. After the modeling courses and learning some Excel, I think you'll be very ready for almost any internship. Keep in mind that SA positions are almost exclusively for students in their penultimate year of college; however, with this preparation, you'll be beyond ready for it come that time.
The WSP course is the usual recommendation, and I've worked with them briefly to set it up on my school's campus. I'm personally ordering the Factset course based on a tip from an analyst I know. The point at your stage of the game is to learn the material, so whatever is most time- and cost-effective should do. WSP seems fine.
If you'd like to learn a language, I say you should try Mandarin. However, keep in mind that non-Latin languages pretty much require you to have a big interest in the culture. Arabic and Mandarin are two of the most difficult to learn languages one can think of, and you can't wing it or go gung-ho to learn either of them. I speak from personal experience on Mandarin.
Don't learn Latin. Dead language, and it's usefulness beyond improving your English (which it does) is almost nil. Consider Spanish if you want an easier language (native speaker; it doesn't require any real immersion so long as you have some exposure).
I think that between the VC internship, modeling courses and picking up a language, you'll have established a very strong foundation for your college career. The additional internship to go with the VC position would further strengthen your resume. Good luck.
There is no way you're going
There is no way you're going to get a good IB internship without going to school
"Well, you know, I was a human being before I became a businessman." -- George Soros
FSC: Extensity: FSC: The
The only reputable/worthwhile ones require work experience and / or a college degree. I'm thinking CFA, FRM, CAIA. Those cover a pretty wide array of industries.
If you're looking for something to do in your gap year, complete a course on Excel/PowerPoint so you know advanced functions, then do a financial modeling course from WSP or Factset. Additionally, learn a language and if you have the opportunity, do an internship or development/immersion program somewhere.
That's what I'd have done, if I could go back and do it over with a gap year. Designations are mainly for people in industry; getting them during senior year of college is already very early. There's is absolutely no need for you to pursue one after high school.
Thank you for your reply. I looked into all three of the aforementioned. CAIA will let me take the exams without having a BA or work experience, but says that I need to fulfil the work experience component, as well as the BA, within 5 years of completing the level II exam. I'll take your recommendations and will put off designations for the time being.
I have an internship working at a VC firm lined up but that's not nearly long enough to take up my entire gap year. I will definitely look into getting something else, hopefully in investment banking. Problem is I'm a complete beginner. If I completed a course on Excel/Powerpoint and learned financial modeling would I be paid internship ready at an investment bank as an analyst?
Do you have any recommendations for the Excel/Powerpoint courses?
How does this course from WSP look? -- http://www.wallstreetprep.com/programs/self_study/...
I was thinking about Arabic, Latin, or Mandarin.
I think so. You sound advanced, or at least conscientious of what you're getting into. After the modeling courses and learning some Excel, I think you'll be very ready for almost any internship. Keep in mind that SA positions are almost exclusively for students in their penultimate year of college; however, with this preparation, you'll be beyond ready for it come that time.
The WSP course is the usual recommendation, and I've worked with them briefly to set it up on my school's campus. I'm personally ordering the Factset course based on a tip from an analyst I know. The point at your stage of the game is to learn the material, so whatever is most time- and cost-effective should do. WSP seems fine.
If you'd like to learn a language, I say you should try Mandarin. However, keep in mind that non-Latin languages pretty much require you to have a big interest in the culture. Arabic and Mandarin are two of the most difficult to learn languages one can think of, and you can't wing it or go gung-ho to learn either of them. I speak from personal experience on Mandarin.
Don't learn Latin. Dead language, and it's usefulness beyond improving your English (which it does) is almost nil. Consider Spanish if you want an easier language (native speaker; it doesn't require any real immersion so long as you have some exposure).
I think that between the VC internship, modeling courses and picking up a language, you'll have established a very strong foundation for your college career. The additional internship to go with the VC position would further strengthen your resume. Good luck.
Certainly am. Alright, I'm sure they're not going to expect the world out of me, it being an internship at my age. Duly noted, it doesn't need to be an investment banking internship; I'll take what I can get.
Yeah, I was worried about that. I'll look into it a little more. I couldn't care less about any culture aside from the one I'm living in.
Thanks, and thanks for the wealth of information! I appreciate it!
Futures Trader Man: There is
There is no way you're going to get a good IB internship without going to school
I'm not expecting to get the best inernship in the world, but I'll put myself out there, no doubt.
Futures Trader Man: There is
There is no way you're going to get a good IB internship without going to school
He's (probably) in Europe. Gap years are pretty much the norm over there.
FSC: Futures Trader
There is no way you're going to get a good IB internship without going to school
He's (probably) in Europe. Gap years are pretty much the norm over there.
I'm in Canada, but I'm going to Europe for university.