Wharton Undergrad + CFA®?

Currently, a Wharton undergrad with not much to do this summer. I'm interested in Asset Management and hedge funds and would like to try to enter the industry straight out of undergrad, rather than go the IB route.

I was thinking about spending the summer studying for the CFA® Level I. What sort of value would this add to my undergrad degree? Is it worth it?

All opinions valued. Thank you

 

And if you're at Wharton period, you'll have access to great recruiting and I wouldn't really waste your time with the CFA. I would never even consider studying the CFA in undergrad- it takes way too much time and the time spent studying could be used for so many other things that are far more worthwhile and interesting.

 

From CFA Level I entry in investopedia:

Prerequisites: U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent, obtained no later than the 31st of December of the year in which the first exam will be written.

You CAN'T sign up for the CFA as a rising sophomore.

Money Never Sleeps? More like Money Never SUCKS amirite?!?!?!?
 
Best Response

Well, If you are in the final year...You can go and study CFA level 1....It gives you good basics on valuation concepts and broad study in the investment science. If you are interested in the AM and Hedge fund in general, then Yes, CFA would be of a great added value to you as by Level III you will master the science of the portfolio management in general.

But CFA isn't that easy it requires dedicated time like no other...I forgot what social life means in the past 3 years. Is it worthy? on my personal opinion, yes....

 

I took Level I my Junior year of Underdrad (the summer before my senior year). They let me combine RELEVANT work experience and my 3 years of school in order to do this. I will list some benefits I have noticed of doing this while in undergrad and why I dont think it is worth it:

  1. Professors sucked my dick senior year

  2. It did a lot as far as "prove" to employers that I have an extreme interest in finance and that this is my passion and what I want to do (what 19 year old spends 200 hours and $1k+ unless they are sure thats what they want to do).

  3. Didn't receive any technical questions in interviews (at least to the extent I was expecting). Every interviewer would say "I am not worried about your ability to read a balance sheet or if you know modern portfolio theory if you passed level I". All my interviews were 99% fit. I think this could be a bad thing though if you are all brains and have no social skills.

  4. I probably received more interviews than I otherwise would have.

However, I think that the hours would have been much better spent networking and partying. (I probably would have had even more quality interviews if I networked more and ultimately got a better job). In my opinion, Level I will only help in regards to #1 in any situation. It is an easy exam, and employers are not impressed if you can pass.

Hope this helps.

 

If you're not good enough to let the Wharton name speak for you, you fucked up somewhere along the way. Wharton should easily get you into interviews. It's up to you to kill it from there.

The CFA is unnecessary.

 

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