Econ vs. Foreign Language

I’m an undergraduate business major with a concentration in finance at what I’d consider a semi-target school (USC Marshall). I’m interested in a career in investment banking.

I have room to pick up a minor, and I’m debating between a minor in economics and a minor in a foreign language (continuing the language I took in high school).

Any thoughts? Since my concentration is already finance, would a minor in economics be necessary/useful or would it be redundant? Are foreign language skills looked upon favorably or are they generally considered irrelevant?

Thanks so much for any input.

5 Comments
 

The minor in econ would be much more "useful" to you as an analyst. Foreign language skills typically count for nothing if you aren't fluent, and even then you likely need to leave the US for credit.

However, you are already a finance major and that is more than enough. If you actually enjoy languages more than econ, go with the language. Your entire "package" doesn't need to scream banking.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

There is hardly any crossover between college economics and finance. The analytical rigor of a good econ program has some carryover to the analyst role in banking, but the content itself is mostly unrelated.

Personally, I'd go with whichever choice will make you look like a harder worker (and hopefully keep your GPA in the right range).

 

Mollitia dignissimos rem officiis voluptates non et necessitatibus. Beatae asperiores sit error debitis nulla dolor nostrum. Laboriosam dolor vel itaque laudantium ut cum nulla aperiam. In at ipsum omnis facere ea iure. Quis fugiat velit et voluptatem esse. Rerum consequuntur sed non vel molestias.

Aut non id qui aut quia. Consequatur voluptatem laudantium dignissimos quasi. Quisquam qui fuga beatae ratione qui. Et qui earum repellat neque. Blanditiis ipsam harum eum autem nobis qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”