I'm a freshman, what do I need to do?
So, I'm a freshman enrolled in engineering at a school that's not a "target school" but has some recruitment. I am undecided in major but I am thinking either Industrial Engineering (by which, I really mean OR, but they're in the same department) or Computer Science + Math (the CS program is in the Engineering school here, and is very flexible in it's requirements... much more so than IE). But I might do something different like CS + Econ, CS + Stats, IE with a minor in CS and/or Econ... You get the idea... Something dealing with Applied Maths, Econ, and Computer Science. So far my GPA puts me at about 85th percentile, at a top-10 engineering school, but it's only been 1 semester so I don't know if that'll hold.
I really don't have much knowledge of the finance industry right now, at all. I've always been interested in making money though, and I don't mean in the way that everyone wants to make money. At age 11, 12, and 13 (a little bit after the Dotcom boom... late 2001-2003ish) I used to buy and sell domain names, never made much, but that's pretty much what I did outside of school. After that I started playing a couple of online games, and ran some automated "money makers" and sold the game money online. After getting banned and having counter-measures placed against those automated systems, I moved into playing games like Trading Sims (offline), and would challenge myself by trying to obtain specific amounts of money in specific periods of time. I also played some other games like Civilization, Sim City, other strategy games. Still into them, but maybe better to get out into the real world again.
Anyway, in researching I've decided that working at a Hedge Fund or Proprietary Trading firm sounds most interesting. I can work in groups, I can communicate effectively (I've been told I'm a very good speaker), I can work with people, but I want to work with numbers and money primarily, as opposed to primarily with people. Investment banking for that reason is NOT what I want to do. Software development isn't what I want to do either though. I want to (eventually) be someone who's making decisions. Though right now I'm just concerned with getting my self into the area, positioning myself to move in that direction.
Anyway, to now get to the whole point of this thread... What should I be doing right now to get to work at a Hedge Fund or Prop trading firm? Obviously I should learn some about the finance industry, and I'll read some things here and elsewhere online. If anyone can suggest some books too that would be great (Something like Hedge Funds for Dummies?) too. I'm going to take classes over the summer this summer, but the next one I want to try to get an internship. What are things they're going to look for that I should handle right now? Any general advice from you guys? If it makes a difference, firms from Chicago seem to recruit here much more heavily than NYC firms.
Thanks guys.
GO out and fuck girls.
I'd rather masturbate. Much simpler, same orgasm.
Honestly, probably not as good of an orgasm, but good enough.
wow you are a complete loser. interviewers prefer guys who do well in school, stay involved, AND still get chicks,
if you don't see the light of day or other important "sights" that guys value, your limited social development will stymie your progress everywhere. any career in high finance (and consulting) demands very keen social skills that you will not develop by dressing and talking with your right palm..
honestly dude, enjoy college. study hard, party harder, network, and look out for internships in investment management, prop trading or S&T to get your foot in the door. This isn't rocket science...
....and don't post on an online forum about how you would rather masturbate than fuck girls (sarcastic or not)....thats just fucked up....
don't mention your online activities in an interview
Keep the GPA above 3.5
Start networking your sophomore year with alumni in the business. Try to get an internship (anywhere) in finance your sophomore summer. Be willing to work for free. One internship your junior year wont do it if you're coming from a non-target; you'll need 2 or 3.
Stay involved. Have at least 2 on campus activities where you show some leadership; also some volunteer work helps. Join the investment club.
Don't forget to have fun. Don't try to force things, do what you can do to have the edge but don't kill yourself over a job.
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