High school student unsure what field of finance he wants to go into
I'm a junior in high school. I'm very interested in the intersection between economics and politics. I also like math, stats, and computer science. Does anyone have any know of any careers in finance that I could potentially go into that draw on the intersection between these fields?
In terms of fields of study, I've looked at NYU Stern's Business and Political Economy program and I find it extremely appealing. Do I have a chance of getting into Stern? My SAT is 1600, but my GPA is 3.56. My only extracurricular activity is doing basic programming and mathematics at a computational chemistry laboratory. I'm several years ahead in math, I take math classes at a nearby university that college sophomores would normally take. My school does not have DECA or FBLA.
Are there any non-target schools that have similar programs to BPE at Stern? Would doing those programs at a non-target be worth it in terms of job prospects? Would there be a way for me to transfer to Stern with my low high school GPA?
Thanks you all for your help!
Look into public finance
I'm not sure if I find this all that interesting. And the job listings I saw related to this field either required a law degree or paid $20/hr and I'd be working for some town in the middle of nowhere
I don’t think you rlly looked bro pubfin under IB at the bulges and some MM banks is the same base as corporate IB, albeit 20-30% bonuses
Based on the WSO dataset, your interests in economics, politics, math, stats, and computer science align well with several career paths in finance that leverage these disciplines. Here are a few potential careers:
Quantitative Analysis: This field heavily uses mathematics, statistics, and computer science to analyze financial markets and securities. It's ideal for someone who enjoys deep technical work.
Financial Technology (FinTech): Combining finance with technology, roles in this area often involve developing new tools and platforms that improve financial services, incorporating elements of computer science and economics.
Economic Policy Analysis: This role involves analyzing and interpreting economic policies and their impact on the financial markets. It's a good fit if you're interested in the intersection of economics and politics.
Regarding your interest in NYU Stern's Business and Political Economy (BPE) program, your perfect SAT score is impressive and definitely a strong point in your application. However, Stern is highly competitive, and while your GPA is slightly lower than typical Stern admits, your advanced coursework in mathematics and your unique extracurricular activity in computational chemistry demonstrate strong academic capabilities. Admissions decisions can also depend on your essays, recommendations, and how well you articulate your passion and fit for the program.
As for non-target schools with similar programs to Stern's BPE, you might consider looking into programs that offer a blend of business, economics, and international relations. Schools like American University, George Washington University, and University of Southern California offer programs that might align with your interests. While these schools may not have the same prestige in finance as Stern, graduates can still secure good positions, especially with strong internships and networking.
Transferring to Stern with a lower GPA from high school might be challenging, but it's not impossible. Focus on achieving a high GPA in your first year or two at another college, get involved in relevant extracurricular activities, and build a compelling case for why Stern is the right fit for you.
Remember, the path to a career in finance can vary widely, and excelling in a non-target program with strong internships and networking can be just as effective as graduating from a target school.
Sources: The Case for Choosing a Non-Target, Q&A: I'm a current MBA student in the NYU Stern part-time program, The Comprehensive List of Transfer Friendly Schools For Investment Banking, Berkeley vs Brown vs Stern, Is NYU Stern(undergrad) considered a target for MBB?
I think if you could contextualize why it is you haven't been achieving the stellar grades that you're clearly capable of and absolutely KILL it (3.9-4 GPA) for 1st year of college, you'd 1000% have a shot to transfer to a top target GIVEN you also put some work into ur ECs, find a way to leverage ur passion for cs or math for a passion project you've wanted to pursue, maybe an algorithm that's useful for your school or a local business (get those community pts) ? But genuinely bro, just lock in for senior year, get that GPA as high as possible, stat pad your ECs, and you might not have to transfer
How am I supposed to contextualize my GPA? "Hi NYU. I was too busy messing around with my friends to write my English essay. I promise I'll be more responsible in the future. Please let me in." I guess I can just make something up about mental health or family issues.
Aside from that, I'll probably end up seeing if I can network (ie. pester distant relatives working in finance) to give me an internship over the summer.
I'd recommend getting rid of the anime girl profile pic before anything else.
Duly noted.
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