Advice for first year college student

I've just begun my four year tenure at college and feel both excited yet nervous for what is to come. 

I have career aspirations within the financial sector, however, despite my rather young age, I can't help but feel as if I need to get my shit together asap in terms of figuring out how to navigate e.g. the IB application process. 

For any of you older folks on this website, what general advice would you give freshman you? 

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

To parrot the advice I saw on here while I was trying to figure out applications (which I started pretty late in the game), focus on GPA over everything early on. Make sure if there is an investment club at your school your working your ass off to get into the best one assuming you're at a non-target/semi target. I got into a decent position by focusing on GPA and networking and getting a little lucky. Wish I had done investment club.Best of luck and don't worry to much about it. The fact you're thinking about this now means youll be just fine even if you miss IB entirely. Plenty of decent finance jobs outside of it that pay well enough.

 

Appreciate the advice! What did you major in at college and do you have any recommendations regarding specific courses which you found interesting and/or valuable? (doesnt have to be finance related). 

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

- High GPA - super important

- Best investment / IB / finance club(s) at your school - try to get to a leadership role by sophomore year. 

- Learn your technicals cold 

- get CLOSE with current juniors and seniors. They will be going to FT jobs / wrapping up SA when YOU are recruiting. They CAN make introductions, and believe me, they will come in handy. 

- HAVE FUN

 

Yeah, make some friends and get some pussy. You don't wanna be a socially awkward hardo that can't communicate with anyone. Make some cool memories that you can reminisce on with your bros. Do something that's interesting that will make you an interesting person. It would look cool if you took MMA or boxed or played an instrument. That's underrated advice.

Other than that, keep your grades up; it's the first year, so most of your classes are easy general electives. If you really want to be ambitious and have the time then get an excel certificate and a headstart on your technicals. Also, read the WSJ or something. But don't become a finance robot.

 

Nesciunt similique ad sed ut omnis ab. Id illo voluptates quis itaque. Soluta officiis ipsa qui eum quis error.

Quis est temporibus rem. Mollitia earum nobis voluptatum reprehenderit quidem et. Est ut dolorum dolorem repellendus. Cum veniam facilis consectetur temporibus debitis quo.

Sint praesentium quam quis nulla minima. Dignissimos excepturi non est. Et iusto aliquid animi et ducimus eum. Nam repudiandae eum qui. Voluptatem at fuga odit nisi. Voluptas aut sit enim veritatis eum saepe.

Adipisci reprehenderit soluta molestiae expedita ullam. Hic ea eveniet dolorem consequuntur suscipit facere consequatur praesentium. Inventore enim voluptas qui quia sunt facere. Sequi corrupti fugiat quia itaque accusamus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”