Currently a freshman at a top target, concentrating in finance. Two questions:
(1) What are considered "strong extracurriculars"? I'm not involved in any finance or investment-related clubs on campus, and although I'm interested in finance, I'm not particularly interested in joining these organizations. Honestly--will this work against me in the recruiting process?
(2) How do recruiters view undergraduate research? I want to pursue research in emerging markets, which would require me to first shadow a professor and then complete independent study. I'm probably going to pursue this regardless, but just wondering how recruiters view such a project (too academic?).
are a vehicle for you to demonstrate leadership, determination, and commitment. It also should show that you are somewhat sociable. Whether it's a varsity sport, research, community service, music, etc. they just want to see someone who has leadership roles and didn't quit. THat being said, you don't necessarily need to join a finance club or the likes. Find something you are interested in and devote some time to it. Otherwise, you're no different from the other 3.8 finance majors who did nothing but study all 4 years of college.
Research is always an area that's a good topic during an interview. But you need to make a case for why you want to go into finance. I did a good amount of research in undergrad, and was asked a few times why I didn't want to pursue a career in academia.
I agree with the poster above, whatever it is, you need to show commitment and determination. Every resume I've seen has this, that or the other finance club/charitable organization/intramural sports team, etc. If you want an extracurricular to impress, it needs to be 1) something you've excelled in and can prove, 2) time consuming, think a sport that practices everyday for 2+ hours, 3) challenging - resume readers will know if your extracurricular is some BS resume building ploy.
A sport (providing you also have a strong GPA) is probably the best single category to have. I mean a real University sanctioned team, not intramural or some twice a week ultimate frisbee club (not saying a hardcore UF team wouldn't count) - something that involves travel and intense time management. If you aren't athletically inclined, look for an activity with a similar spirit that requires teamwork, time management, hard work and the occassional opportunity to be reamed and not cry about it - these are all qualities that are needed in an analyst, in addition to basic intelligence.
I would say joining a programming board (especially if you go to a larger university with a decent-sized budget) is a good activity to have. If you can get a leadership role, you pretty much inherit a pretty large amount of responsibility, and plenty of leadership/teamwork/management/commitment/etc stories from the experience. As a bonus perk programming events is usually pretty fun (concerts, lectures, competitions, etc) relative to the finance club or investment banking club.
1) No, you don't need extracurriculars in finance but you DO need to show an interest in business/finance. Echoing what other posters here have said, being committed and making a substantial contribution to a time-consuming activity matters more than doing something finance-related.
However, I view resumes that show absolutely no interest in business (e.g., 100% research/volunteer experience) with some suspicion. It's not that they can't do the job; it's that I don't know how they would perform in a corporate environment.
So your ECs do not have to be finance-related, they just have to be good. But make sure you have work experience and express your interest in business somehow on your resume.
2) Depends on the type of research... I think emerging markets is very relevant and fine for IBD/other finance positions. I would think more highly of someone who pursued an independent project like this, but if ALL he/she did was research that would be a different story.
If you have any interest hedge funds or the like, start reading now. I interviewed with a couple HF's before I decided to sell my soul for IBD and they really dug in to what investing books I had read. They know most schools, especially targets without undergrad business, don't really dig into portfolio theory so they want to see that you have took up upon yourself to learn from those who have been successful.
fraternities and sororities are looked upon highly at most distressed debt/special situations shops.
Patek-
Really? Is that true for Banks too? I've almost taken my fraternity off of my resume a few times because I was afraid people would just think of it as a drinking club/animal house and not a valuable extracurricular.
"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead."
I would leave it on - but be sure to not place it above your other ECs. Greek life can indicate that a person is social and balances work and play well (obviously dependant upon the rest of the resume). Greek leadership positions also are indicative of gaining a high level of respect and confidence among peers, a quality very necessary once you start working. Leave it on, but as you probably know, be careful when trying to convey it's importance relative to everything else on your resume.
Not to mention it could prove to be something you have in common with whoever is looking at your resume.
I agree with nrc_chicago on this one. A grueling sport (provided 3.4+ GPA) will really make you a stronger candidate. A varsity sport + high GPA + rigorous major almost entirely rules out work ethic risk, social awkwardness risk, and low productivity risk.
In my experience, there is instant camaraderie/understanding between any two people who either played the same sport or played sports in the same genre (example: the "pain sports" -- swimming, rowing, distance running...). This just makes work (and interviews) a lot more fun.
Good extracurricular activities (Originally Posted: 06/02/2015)
Hey all!
I am not sure if there is another post on this.
I was just wondering what are the kind of extracurricular activities that graduate programs are looking for? What sticks out? How much do you need?
Thanks!
A) Cure Cancer. B) Gold medal @ Olympic games. C) Nobel prize. D) Help 100,000 starving children in Africa. E) Sell a self-built business for $100 million by the age of 25. F) Play the main character in Game Of Thrones.
BOOOM. Congrats! You are on your way to HBS.
do something extreme that no-one else does... like the guitar player in the bad guy's army in mad max fury road..
"Tell me what interests I should fake" are some of the worst threads on WSO, and that's saying a lot.
This was more of me wondering how the extracurriculars that I have done would stack up to what they look for. Not looking for interests to fake.
The kind of activities doesn't matter. It's how much you excel at them. Sports? Fine. Arts? Also fine. Business-y shit? A-okay.
The important thing is to make sure that you are working your way up to a position of leadership and influence. Even better if you can extend it nation-wide or globally. So yes, volunteering as the national marketing chair of a nonprofit is vastly superior to being a member of an investment club. B-schools want to see that you have drive, motivation, a "big-picture" outlook on things you pursue, and dedication to make it happen.
That's been my experience, at least. Sources: hearsay from friends who are currently in GSB/HBS/Sloan. No biggie.
It's depth over breadth. If you are several years out from applying for an MBA then I would focus on starting or getting involved in an organization where you can organize/lead something (you don't need to be the president). The key is to stick with it over time. A lot of times candidates demonstrate a lot of intellectual vitality in school and through their work - but then they start to fall short when it comes to demonstrating (not necessarily having) softer skills.
Always be looking for things where being great with people is key to success. Sports are great too - team sports are best (if possible).
"So yes, volunteering as the national marketing chair of a nonprofit is vastly superior to being a member of an investment club. " I agree!
Think about what makes you, you, and then go DO IT. Do it well. Do it better than anyone else. Don't just try to find stuff that'll stand out or that you think others want to see. That's not going to get you the attention you deserve. Not everyone wants to volunteer at a soup kitchen. That's ok. Maybe nonprofits aren't your thing. That's cool. No two of our clients have the same involvement. But what do they ALL have in common? Passion. A trajectory. Impact. A thread through their own story. Purpose. But countless paths to show that!
Bhavik
This is a silly question...they are just interested in your hobbies and ensuring you have some type of interest. It is great to have a charitable aspect, but if that not your thing that's okay too. Framing the story can make a fairly average activity seem very interesting. ie: I write yelp reviews on my commute or sometimes watching tv...this in reality is not interesting or original. But I framed the story saying I was a part of a community, voted into a "Elite"/VIP writer position and published over 150 posts and the ADCOM interviewers ate it up!!
I didn't lie, I was completely authentic but I put a beautiful mask on the activity that might be categorized as wasting time on the internet.
Why don't you do tutoring? You could tutor kids in math and science. etc. That's really great!
********"Babies don't cost money, they MAKE money." - Jerri Blank********
Do I need extracurricular activities to get a Summer Analyst internship. (Originally Posted: 02/15/2014)
I go to a non-target school, mid 3 GPA and haven't done anything since I've been in college (commute and my dad picks me up from school).
By the time I send my applications in Fall 2014, I would just have volunteer experience from high school. It probably doesn't matter but I'm joining a fraternity in Spring 2015 with my buddies. I'm not involved in it yet because I don't to pay for the dues.
Non target + mid GPA = indeed, you highly need to differentiate yourself, and one way is by showing uncommon and valuable extracurricular activies.
Thanks, how many activities do you recommend?
Plus it's flexible in case you have finals or something like that.
********"Babies don't cost money, they MAKE money." - Jerri Blank********
Extracurricular Activities (Originally Posted: 12/30/2012)
I am currently a sophomore at a regional college with an accounting/finance dual major. What extracurricular activities would you suggest that I could use in a future banking interview?
Thanks in advance
Finance Club; Go figure.
Sports. Just get into sports, call early to get an internship too, and be confident.
Investment club, fraternity, sports, and something unique
Why are you doing activities for the sole purpose of the interview? Sure, some of those are fine, but you should really get involved in things that actually interest you. You'll be more passionate about those clubs/groups/etc, and it really comes off when you talk about them in an interview.
You better be enthusiastic and enjoy whatever you're involved with. Interviewers don't want to hear mundane a$$ ppl n their boring stories
On that note. I was involved with diving/study abroad/investment club/mma.
Interviewers loved study abroad topics.
Yea, I guess it depends on the HR person you get too? Tough, if you can swing it, the best way is to get in touch with someone who already works at a bank or firm. This way, you're not going in their blind. Im 26, and went through all of this since 19 and the best advice I can give you is to try to get someone who already works at the bank. Also, not sure where you go to UNI but Arizona State has a great program that has done well for Wall Street internships. Best of luck.
SenorAlpha
Thanks for the advice. I have contacted individuals at firms. Does anyone have advice on how often to contact these individuals? No one likes a beggar but you want the person to remember you when its internship/job time.
Good ECs Besides Joining Clubs? (Originally Posted: 09/28/2010)
Hi,
I was wondering what would be some good things to do during one's free time in undergrad besides joining clubs? I feel that most of the time, those clubs are just a waste of time and they don't separate you from anyone else since 90% of people in accounting/finance join them. Therefore, if I don't like to do clubs, what are some other ECs I could explore doing because all I can say that I do right now is that I get good grades, I read a lot of different business books, and I actively follow the markets/manage my own portfolio, which probably doesn't look good either. Are there some things I can learn on my own that may be resume worthy, because I am primarily into reading and learning new things, so if there is a certain skill that I can learn and is valuable enough to put on my resume, that might be a good option for me. Furthermore, by becoming more knowledgeable about things through my reading, I've found that it has helped me in networking because whatever contacts I talk to enjoy that I can talk to them intelligently, but I definitely need to bolster my app up a bit.
Thanks!
Arms dealing, money laundering, and drug trafficking are all good options you should explore.
Create something, lead something, do something interesting. No one cares about your clubs or your portfolio. Yes you have to be able to speak intelligently about the world and about business, but no one is going to be asking you, "but what about your portfolio?" Lead a trip to Mexico to dig people out of the mudslides or something. The point is that you have a personality and are capable of dedicating your self to something. If you're just some dorky robot that the interview can literally see the dollar signs in your eyes, then that usually doesn't indicate a "fit."
Getting laid..............."45 thrusts a minute for ten minutes" on a resume shows that you have decent stamina while you take it up the ass from Comcast.
but seriously, grab a gun and go create world peace.
I agree with JHoratio... start something unique. Whether it be a club or a business, do something that you can call your own and speak about in interviews. It shows initiative and drive, rather than just being a "member" of some bullshit ibanking club that you probably never went to and the meetings consisted of a bunch of kids getting together, buying pizza with school funds and talking about what they are going to do with their bonus checks once they break into banking.
Start a business, even if its something small, do it. Maybe organize a community service trip, or do a fundraising event so you can say something like "organized XXX and raised $YYYY for ZZZZ firm"
Gekko beat me to it.
How about:
"Went to club. Scored. Rinsed. Repeated. Laughed at rest of them. Next night...12 a.m...did it again".
I founded my own charitable organization and I have been asked in every single interview about this and usually the interview makes a star or circles this part of my resume.
Extracurriculars - College freshman at semi-target (Originally Posted: 01/18/2012)
I'm starting my second semester as a college freshman in the US at a semi-target. Currently I'm in the finance club but I'm looking to expand my extracurriculars for the sole purpose of putting them on the resume (don't throw shit at me please, I'm sure you did/are doing the same). I'll probably join an intramural sport for fun, but otherwise I have a couple good options. BB IBD is my desired outcome come graduation.
My university is pretty prestigious in the research field and I have the option to get involved with economic/financial research. Most of it is bitch work for the first semester or so but after that you play more of a meaningful role. Yes or no? Also the public school system where I am is total shit and the university runs a good tutoring program for kids at local middle schools. Does this look good? Do big banks care about philanthropic stuff like this?
I also have a part-time job on campus. Again, does it look good?
TIA...
Philanthropic and research stuff is good for a lot of reasons and, if you do something meaningful with it, it will look good. Finance clubs are better than nothing, but everyone knows that they are pretty much bullshit.
Try to find something that you will enjoy enough to stick with and put work in for because it looks much better if you end up in a leadership position of pretty much anything rather than have a bunch of shitty finance clubs that you list you were the treasurer of or some other BS.
Thanks. To clarify the finance club (investment fund) isn't a lot of dicking around, we manage a real 6 figure portfolio and have done extremely well at a few stock competitions. Maybe thats BS to some of the "ballers" around here.
I think nearly everyone on this site has been in a finance club and yes, pretty much all of them have 6-7 figure portfolios and do well in stock competitions. Great for fostering interest, but it is mostly resume padding BS.
Still worth it though you think? Besides internships, what's the most important "extracurricular" you can have?
Worth it how? I mean, I'm an advocate for doing what you enjoy doing because I think that will lead you to both enjoying your life and also likely doing better in whatever the activity is, which is more important than the particular activity. Participating in a neighborhood schools program or something of that nature will trump being a member of the finance club if you held a leadership position and can objectively show some of the positive change (ie you increased size of the program/awareness/whatever).
Worth it as in worth it to put the time in the have it on the resume. I understand leadership is important though.
If it isn't a leadership position, I generally don't see a ton of value in putting random ECs on there that you don't care about. 'Finance club' would be a perfect example since it tends to be filled with overly serious finance clowns. If you love it, do it for that reason, not to pad the resume, because it isn't worth your time and isn't going to be the deal breaker in an interview.
Then how do you show interest in finance which seems to be one of the most important factors in hiring? And isn't BB IBD filled with "overly serious finance clowns" in the first place?
lol then go be in the finance club, guy. There are a LOT of people in finance that did absolutely nothing or very little in 'finance' while in college. Do you think all of those liberal arts majors were in various finance/econ clubs?
Do something you care about and are passionate about. If that is finance, by all means join the club. What I'm telling you is that a non-leadership position in that club will be essentially meaningless to whether or not you get an interview, let alone a job.
Just do whatever you're interested in. The BS will seep through your teeth if you're doing something you're not actually passionate about. If you want to get involved through finance organizations, then try to get in leadership roles... even if it's mostly BS.
A quick update, I have the opportunity to work with a professor on getting a paper published and being a research assisstant. I actually have two opportunities:
Which do you think would look best on a resume? I am obviously more interested in finance/IB but I think throwing the Harvard name on the resume (just mentioning the other professors) might carry a lot of weight. Problem is it really has nothing to do with finance (think government spending, etc) so I don't know what to do. Ideas?
In my humble opinion, I would rather go with option no.2. It's more related and you get greater responsibility. I feel it provides you more leeway to explain to an interviewer/recruiter the exact roles and responsibilities you performed in the authoring of the paper.
Stop being a tool. Do whichever one you find more interesting. When it comes to getting interviews, summer internships and networking are much more important than extra-curriculars.
I know that. And I'm equally interested in both, thats why I asked. I'm not going to do something I hate.
Are Extracurriculars a must? (Originally Posted: 08/20/2013)
I'm working part time during the school year - do I still need to have "leadership" activities? I'ts not like my resume needs more filler...
It helps in showing that you can work with other peers. Also, it is sort of a "volunteer" which also shows you are willing to contribute back to organizations you're part of.
If anything, be "involved" in a club but don't be active. Win-win
Everyone I speak to tells me that you need to be a well-rounded person - not just an academic beast. I guess you would have to have some sort of extra-curricular activities you could talk about.
What is the best extracurricular thing to do? (Originally Posted: 12/23/2013)
I have 1.5 years of uni left, and that isn't enough time to get good at a sport or kiss enough ass and get elected in a society position. From searching WSO, people say ECs barely matter, but whenever I look at a resume on the forums here it has the guy having something like managing a 100k budget and saving the orphans. How do the UK people get over this?
If stock picking is luck, does that mean that it's not worth investing money in order to put down on your CV that you do it (I'd invest about £1k btw)? Or would the interviewers have to pretend that it's not all bs since they work at a bank?
I know the guy got a Nobel Prize for saying that the markets are always right and you can't beat them. But I disagree and point out that the markets have gone through two big crashes in the last fifteen years because markets were making retarded bets. Markets are retarded, and every retard can set up a e-trade account and make retarded trades. Investment banks are also retarded because they allow traders to take huge bets with other people's money and don't charge them for losses. If you're not retarded, stock picking aka TRADING isn't just luck.
Gold is fucked and bitcoins are toast, ETFs and low PE sector stocks will rally for the forseeable future. BOOM, I just picked stuff that has been and will keep winning. You're welcome.
Put every and any interest / EC on your resume that's not too strange. The only purpose these things serve is to give them a better idea of who they're dealing with. Think about it: do you want a coworker who's only interest is "investment, knitting, and maths clubs" or do you want someone who actually has something in common with you...
Do I need extracurricular activities? (Originally Posted: 03/16/2013)
Hi WSO,
I couldn't find anything on this using search, so excuse my insolence if there's already a topic on this.
I'm wondering how necessary extracurriculars are when applying to I-banking positions out of undergrad? I have enough experience to fill my resume (4 relevant internships throughout college), however I've also got some considerable extracurricular involvement (finance club president, fraternity involvement, volunteer work).
I went to a non-target, and to be perfectly honest, my extracurricular involvement never resulted in anything extraordinary or that "impacted" very many people. As a result of all that, I feel that I should elaborate as much as possible on my experience and on what deals / transactions / engagements I worked on during my internships rather than potentially crappy extracurriculars.
So is it okay to simply omit an "Extracurricular" section and just include a line describing my positions under my university?
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
When people look at resumes for undergrads, they expect more along the lines of leadership than professional experience - the reason is because it's more important for you to be an exceptional person (leadership, stellar academics) than an accomplished banker. Your internships only need to show that you have interest in the field.
That's what I was told about target recruiting. If I were to guess, non-target recruiting may emphasize professional experience and internships a lot more. You're on a good track, but I'd elaborate and exaggerate the extracurricular leadership positions as much as possible. Not saying it's more important or even as important as your professional experience, but it deserves some mention and explanation.
i think adding at least one leadership position would be a good idea. it does not have to show any extraordinary results, rather it shows that you have interests on campus besides classes and beerpong.
Extracurriculars - Any volunteer work? (Originally Posted: 11/29/2011)
How do you guys get involved in EC's after undergrad??
Specifically something more than just volunteer work...any suggestions?
Any sports league - flag football, basketball, indoor/outdoor soccer Church groups (also a great way to meet chicks)
But yeah, volunteer groups like UW, B&G club, tutoring, Red Cross, Habitat are all great
Start a society?
tons of foundations u can get involved with or after school programs etc
in case you are interested in volunteer work...
http://www.idealist.org/
^^^ you can search by location and keyword, and filter to volunteer opportunities. i used this site to find my current organization, where i volunteer twice a week. it's pretty legit.
good luck!
I would highly recommend you get involved in something that actually fits your interests. there are so many options, it's not hard; you just have to think a bit and pick something that fits you. It just ends up flowing better with the overall narrative, and obviously you'll get more enjoyment / personal satisfaction out of it.
Example: I do triathlons, which is something I put under personal interests, and I almost always get asked about during interviews because apparently people find it interesting. I'm also involved with a charity called the world bicycle relief (http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org/) that raises money to provide bikes to people in 3rd world countries as their basic means of transportation, and so there is a natural segway from my personal focus on endurance sports to the charity I spend my time and money on. And in fact, I got turned on to that particular charity as a result of my involvement in the cycling / triathlon community, so I didn't even try to draw that connection for purposes of interviewing. Just kinda played out that way, and I found that it felt much easier to talk about and sound interested in (shocker - because I was actually interested in it).
just my two cents.
I am a part of a student run consulting club for NPO's, there I am making a 5 year financial projection for a NPO start up, creating a marketing plan, and a pitchbook they can take to grant-givers.
I am also on the leadership board of our undergraduate finance association.
I am the Fund manager for a small equity fund with some seniors and friends.
Also I play D1 Tennis for a top 5 Tennis team in the nation ( too bad I am quiting though, GPA is really starting to get hit I have like a 3.8 this quarter, 6:00 training, P90x, suicides, lifting is not my ideal college life )
I would say start up something, join a professional frat, Rec sports, join b-school clubs.
Hi StoudeMelo,
Here is an example of a candidate who pursued an extracurricular activity he was interested in, and who was subsequently accepted into Kellogg:
Best,
Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team
^^^ thanks Conrad! Extremely useful!
I volunteer with the World Cycle Relief, a foundation ensuring people in third world countries possess a bike. Its really rewarding and you meet some great people. Perhaps you can look into that.
do you and djfiii know each other??
I'm in Chicago, and have never been to London, so nope I suspect we haven't met. Just a funny coincidence. See my post above (yes, I do volunteer there).
Ah nice. I just started there about 4 months ago. I think they only recently started accepting volunteers within the UK, April I think. How long have you been with them?
How about helping out at a soup kitchen and making some improvements to it? E.g. sourced cheaper suppliers so you could serve more food for the same amount of money
good idea
extracurricular activities? (Originally Posted: 06/05/2012)
Is EC really that important? How important is it? What EC is best for IB?
Thank you all!
Yes, do something you enjoy so when they ask you "why did you do X?" in the interview you have a good story to tell.
Extracurriculars on resume (Originally Posted: 04/20/2013)
I wanted to indicate some sort of leadership experience + extracurriculars.
When I graduated out of high school, I picked up playing guitar and by the time I got to college I could start learning n playing songs. So, I formed a band as a hobby and in the midst of all our busy schedules, I managed to organize practices and we won the campus battle of the bands a few months later performing original songs.
I'm just wondering if indicating I was in a band during college would be something appropriate, as it wasn't part of a campus club or whatever.
Bump please
IMO, this is some very nice experience to talk about during interviews... I would def put it on...
Thanks for the comment. Glad to see it can be taken seriously lol
I actually hate extracurriculars on a resume, but I like this. I would put it.
Extracurriculars - Sophmore at non-target (Originally Posted: 02/02/2012)
I am a sophomore at a non target and I am heavily involved on my campus and I am trying to decide which extracurriculars are worth the effort. Is there an organization that IB recruiters extremely value and that place your resume higher on the list.
What do you think about Beta Gamma Sigma and Beta Alpha Psi?
I doubt it
If there's a club that a lot of alumni in banking were all in, join that for the networking. Otherwise no.
if your major is totally non-finance related (engineering/CS, no finance classes) etc you could join your college's investment/finance club. no one really cares about business frats. when i interview people its cool to come across people with performing-arts type hobbies (e.g. dancer/musician), but that's just me.
Honor societies like BGS don't really require any commitment (unless you take a leadershiip role) so, why not?
If non-finance major join at least one finance club. Besides that do what you enjoy.
Extracurriculars - Member of top finance clubs on campus (Originally Posted: 09/23/2013)
I am a member of one of the top finance clubs on campus that really helps when recruiters see it on your resume. However, I'm not liking the time commitment, direction of the club and dues given the value it is providing me in terms of education.
I am thinking about dropping it now (I am a junior about to go through recruiting at a target). Obviously, I shall have it on my resume but I'm thinking about amending the bullet point to show the years from start to finish (e.g. 2011 - 2013) because I don't want to recruiters to think I'm lying if they do a background check and find out that I'm no longer a member (provided I drop). Would you say it is a wise idea to put the dates or would it be fine as is? Also, would it be a hindrance in recruiting to drop such a club 2-3 months before recruiting even if I've been a member for 2 years?
Thanks
I really don't think you can do backround checks on what clubs you are in nor do employers really care to take the time to do that. I would just keep it on your resume. If a recruiter seriously questions your integrity because you quit a club and didn't acknowledge that on your resume, that's a firm you don't want to work for.
You could probably get away with dropping and not referencing it. However, I would recommend you stick with it and only do the required activities. If its one of the top finance clubs, its gonna have great networking opportunities
maybe you don't need to drop at all. i was a member of a well regarded finance club and i really didn't want to spend quality drinking time going over spreadsheets and arguing over beta scores. so i took the club leadership out regularly at parties and got them drunk and laid and they kept me on the roster even though i only showed up at the meeting about 3 times all year. sucks to say out loud but you don't always need a 4.0 to get what you want. people and pussy skills take you much farther than excel skills! go figure, right?
Extracurriculars suggestions (Originally Posted: 07/28/2012)
Hi,
I'm currently a final year undergraduate student in a private business school(EU).
Thing is, there is only a total of 600ish students (60%+ graduate level) and compared what I read about US school, there isn't any Finance Club or stuff going on, In terms of sports there's only football, where I doubt that I'll make the team. Personal life's pretty much eat, lift, sleep, misc.
Can you guys throw in some suggestions on extracurricular activities which firms/graduate b schools like to look at?
make a finance club??
In terms of graduate school, leadership and variety helps. Do what you love and you'll excel at it. Join clubs where you enjoy doing with the club does and you'll naturally emerge as a leader. There is no cookie-cutter formula for business school. Furthermore, unless you are applying directly form undergrad (which top business schools don't recommend), extracurricualrs in college don't matter as much as what you do afterwards.
Extracurriculars - Inputs? (Originally Posted: 02/27/2012)
This has been a topic that many people have had input on / danced around, but in general anyone have any specific ideas on building an resume of extracurriculars post college? I have competitive stats coming out of undergrad but am kind of at a loss to find a charity and/or that X factor that would really wow adcoms. Seems like a topic many people have trouble with so I thought I would open the board to ideas and possible success stories. Obviously theres no one size fits all answer...
In my experience, having "extracurriculars" is about how much you can stretch the truth. For better or worse, 75% of students involved with them are doing it largely/purely for resume content. And I think this is fairly transparent, or at least understood by admissions committees/IBD interviewers.
My advice would be to pick something that you honest-to-god were involved with, and talk candidly about some of the specific things you've done. I have some semi-bs extracurricular experience on my IBD resume, but in interviews, I find myself talking about the shit I've actually done and been passionate about vs. the "initiative" that I "spearheaded," which in actuality required minimal effort and had negligible impact.
Sorry if this doesn't directly address your question, but from a conceptual standpoint I think that while there is a strong incentive to try and "find a charity" etc to "wow adcoms," but these people see that kind of shit day in/day out. They're pretty desensitized/jaded - actual passion is (in my opinion) the only way to actually get through them.
Good luck man. What are you applying to, MS-Fin? MBA? JD?
thanks for the reponse, definitely some good insight. The whole process seems like bs at some points but I guess you have to try and put everyone on a level playing field somehow.. Looking for an MBA in a few years, in the process of studying for the GMAT now. Quite the grind with work, as im sure you know haha
Can you have Too Many Extracurriculars? (Originally Posted: 04/16/2008)
Do you ever think there is a point where you can have TOO many extracurriculars? I mean legit extracurriculars, not just showing up to a BS club every month.
I'm currently on 2 e-boards + 1 advisory council; a leadership position in my accy fraternity, 1 for a minority accy/fina organization. And an advisory council with the dean.
I have the option to join another advisory council with the chair of the accy department.
But it's starting to affect my grades, which are not that stellar
No one cares if you're on the exec board of an organization. The question is, how big was your role in the organization?
I hold officer positions in several organizations on campus, but some of my biggest roles were in orgs that I did not have a title in.
If your GPA is
I would focus on grades, and then remain very active in 2 - 3 organizations. You seem fine now, but make sure the new undertaking is what you want.
If the interviewer asks, "What did X organization accomplish that could not have happened without you in it?"
But aside from interviews, join it because of interest/dedication. It's college and if you're doing it just to slap on resumes, you're just wasting you're time IMO.
Focus on getting 1-2 really good extracurriculars where you are actively involved (have a treasury/president style position, or were a founder or something like that). Other than that is gravy. In fact, if I were an interviewer, I'd rather see a kid with 1-2 good ECs, 2-3 internships (at least 1 during the school year), a good (3.6+) GPA, and then someone who still has time to go play flag football or some other fun activity.
Extracurricular suggestions? (Originally Posted: 04/16/2012)
So I will be starting as an analyst at a consulting firm next year, and have begun to think ahead to MBA applications. I have taken the GMAT, so the next logical piece seems to be extracurriculars. I know they are an important component of applications, and since I will be starting fresh in a new city, I would like to solicit recommendations for things that I can get involved in.
I am open to nearly anything, but am looking for ideas that:
a) Are interesting, will allow me to make a real impact, will allow me to do some good and/or gain valuable experience, and are doable with a consultant's lifestyle (i.e. on weekends).
and
b) Will be looked upon favorably by adcoms
If it matters, I will be in Chicago next year.
Note: In my searches of the WSO archives, I have commonly run across the advice "do something you can be passionate about". I agree with such advice wholeheartedly, and am hoping that I will be inspired by what others have enjoyed in the past. Any and all advice appreciated!
Train for the Olympics on the weekend, or learn Icelandic.
My thoughts: do something that you are passionate about. It's a great plus if it fits into your story (ie past, experience, ...). OR something with the impact far removed from yourself.
Also: read http://poetsandquants.com/2012/02/19/essentials-of-an-awesome-app-extra…
In before IP promoting deathseeking activities.
Hahaha, what's wrong with me that I think usually think them great ideas?
This is what you're looking for.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/TWfph3iNC-k
Interested as well...
Would something such as coaching/refereeing youth sports be good? I like sports, kind of like working with kids...
Since you're pretty busy throughout the week, have you thought about taking a few weeks of vacation to volunteer abroad?
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