Probably a dumb question but seeing a lot of people talk about DCFs / valuation already.
I’m a freshman and honestly just trying to keep my GPA up and figure out if IB is even for me.
Is it normal to feel behind already or am I just reading too much WSO?
| +365 | Don’t work at UBS - UBS Sucks | 34 | 13h |
| +326 | Article - UBS’ Investment Bank Keeps Losing Ground | 41 | 17h |
| +106 | Should My Intern Get a Return Offer? | 44 | 40m |
| +60 | When to Leave Office as Intern | 8 | 3d |
| +54 | Best IB Group Overall? | 30 | 12h |
| +39 | Would you rather be a Touse Squid or a Bouse Mogger in IB | 2 | 3d |
| +33 | What do you say to ppl who don’t know EVR/LAZ/CVP/PJT | 28 | 1d |
| +33 | F*ck it I'm Going to Med School | 13 | 7h |
| +31 | STEM student lost in London IB recruiting | 17 | 2d |
| +26 | [HELP REQUESTED]: Take A2A Promo or Go Corp Dev | 9 | 3h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
imo, yes, you're letting the hardos get to you.
The freshmen posting about building LBOs from scratch are the minority (and honestly probably weirdos that fail the airport test anyway).
The reality is, no associate expects you to know a DCF right now. If you tank your GPA because you were too busy trying to memorize the 400 questions guide, you’re shooting yourself in the foot.
GPA > Technicals.
You can teach a monkey to model in a week, but you can’t fix a 2.5 GPA. Keep your grades up, join a club so you seem interesting/social, and go enjoy college. You have plenty of time to be miserable later.
I second this. I ruined my GPA 1st sem by worrying about technicals for clubs and stuff, it was an upward battle for the next two semesters. Don’t be like me lol
VP here.
I’ve interviewed hundreds of candidates. I actively ignore "valuation skills" on a freshman resume. It’s usually memorized nonsense that falls apart the second I ask a conceptual question.
We can teach you the math in a week. We can’t fix a bad GPA or a weird personality.
If you want to know if the industry is for you, don't read a textbook. Try a simulation tool like Cookd AI, i actually think it’s a much better litmus test for the actual workflow than memorizing formulas.
Focus on your grades. Enjoy being a kid. You have 40 years to work lol.
You were an Associate promoting your "simulation tool" in your last comment a week ago.
It’s so good he was promoted in a week
Praesentium accusantium est exercitationem quis necessitatibus perspiciatis. Molestias voluptatem delectus necessitatibus suscipit deleniti. Qui unde nobis ipsa nihil. Quia rem incidunt qui est quasi et consectetur in. Voluptatem praesentium nulla atque impedit nostrum quaerat maiores asperiores.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...