Advice for those who are looking into the industry

As a person is under 18, I was wondering what I should do for myself over these next couples of years preparing for college, and jobs in the future. What should I do for myself to help me land a job sophomore or junior year? Thanks!

11 Comments
 

Come back here when you're a sophomore in college.

Seriously, enjoy yourself. I didn't really start caring about networking/IB until 2nd semester of sophomore year (as well as many of my peers) and we still all ended up at great firms.

As of now, get to the best college you can, don't care about target/semi-target/non-target if you get into top 10-20 schools and you're smart you'll make it.

 

What should I do to look at the "top 20", schools? What I mean by this is where can I look to find the best schools? I personally don't want to go to Wharton ( if granted the opportunity ), but what schools stand out the most for best chances at jump starting your career? Thanks!

 
Best Response

While school does matter, once you're at the top 20 schools if you're smart enough you'll make it. No school is going to "jump start your career". Its all about you being smart. You can be at Wharton but if you aren't smart you still won't get into IB. On the other hand you can go to a school public school and you'll still get into IB if you're smart and hardworking.

When you look at schools, look at schools/programs that you would want to be at for the next 4 years. (Geography, school size, etc). If you're genuinely happy with where you're at, you'll succeed.

edit: I think rankings are arbitrary but if you want a jist of top 20 schools look at US News ranking, while I don't think any ranking system is perfect it gives you a general idea of "top" universities.

 

So I'm general, ethic and grades matter more than school, relatively. I'm in the northeast area, so I know there's a vast abundance I can pick and choose from, but what do you think of non target smaller schools, such as Williams, or Middlebury? Should I stay away from these smaller schools, and stay away from Ives?

 

Williams/Middlebury are not "non-targets". Williams definitely fits the target mode (sure they don't pump out 60+ kids to IB but for their size they do really well) Middlebury fits the semi-target. And I don't see why you would stay away from ivys all the ivys are in the top 20.

All I'm saying is don't base your choices on just IB. I chose my college because I liked it therefore 'excelled' and made it to IB

 

I'd argue that you don't even need to be at a top 20. UVA/Berkeley/UNC/Mich would do fine, perhaps even better than something like Johns Hopkins or Rice(both top 15). Learn how to study and interact with people effectively and IB will come to you.

 

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