I am going into my senior year at an early college high school (which means I get my diploma and AA in 2022); I have taken (7) online courses in finance in addition to a year-long MBA program. Is there anything I can do at this point? Thanks.
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Maybe just enjoy other things in life. Cherish what you can do now before you can't any longer
Try getting laid, pal. Jokes aside, maybe try and study for different exams in relations to investments and finance such as Series 63, 65, and 66.
Pointless cause you have to be sponsored, do SIE if anything.
I agree with this statement about the SIE, but the Series 65 can be taken without sponsorship.
Lmao. Thanks, man.
Soon enough you'll realize that IB is not what it seems and when you center your whole life around it more often than otherwise you start regretting. It seems like you are on the right track but my advice to kids this early into their college career is as follows (1) finance classes are fine but not very helpful as it relates to the skills required so don't kill yourself over an extra corporate finance course (2) you should be starting to learn about the industry, e.g., what is it that bankers do? what banks are out there and what do they specialize in? Are they a traditional bank, merchant bank, specialized boutique? (3) After you have done (2), make sure to follow these banks and stay up to date with their early career programs; this will help you get on their radar early on, (4) try to network early on (freshman and sophomore year of college), you need to have actual conversations with people on the job to find out if this is really what you want to do (5) find finance-related internships during your freshman summer and go from there.The most important advice of the all, and I know it doesn't sit well with driven people, is to slow down and enjoy college. College is one of the only certain things in your career.
It's not that I am centering my life specifically around banking. I have a life, a girlfriend, friends, etc., I just do this in my off-time besides video games. But I understand what you are saying. From a mere investment standpoint, it is a terrible idea to go all-in in one specific occupation. But the real world is coming and it is coming rapidly and the finance industry in general is very competitive. I've been reading the WSJ since 5th grade and have a passion for the industry. Thanks for the tips, they are very helpful and I will certainly be doing those. Thanks!
Learn basic accounting and valuation, it’ll help a lot when prep time comes.
Also, read IB book by Rosenbaum.
Rosenbaum = the read EBITDA GOD. Fr tho, read this book and you should crush about any technical interview and actually have an idea of what you are talking about in coffee chats.
Read more books on valuation and finance and get a WSJ subscription. In addition to that plan for a target school, preferably Wharton or Harvard
that's what I am doing
I wish you luck
Thanks. I wish you the best of luck as well.
I’ve recruited and I’ve also been heavily involved in interviewing/ running my universities interview process for several cycles.
Most people don’t get the job because they lack proper social skills/ fail to master behavioral questions. You need to socialize and learn about different types of people in order to succeed in this field, pick up a hobby of some sort.
How’d you master behavioral? Having a little trouble with it
I wish I could give you more guidance, but the first unhelpful tip potentially for you, but helpful for anyone younger reading this is to socialize and know different types of people. Part of an interview is reading the person on the other side of the table. You should be interviewing differently depending on your interviewer. Also, at the end of the day, people are willing to overlook poor technical ability, a poor gpa, or more, if they like the candidate and think they would be successful in the role.
The other tips I would give are the following:
1) Be humble, but confident. Also, be confident and ok with what you don’t know. The people interviewing you will all, at a minimum, have been doing the job for a year working 70+ hour weeks. As a result, they will know more than you because it’s literally their job. If you try to prove how smart you are, or get condescending, it’s going to go very poorly. On that note, I’m always amused by the obsession with technicals and how really when you do technicals, people are trying to determine 2 things:
However, what ends up happening is people end up thinking the technicals are higher stakes than they are and either display a poor attitude when they get a question wrong or display extreme nervousness. You can get a technical wrong and still get the job—I did and many people do.
2) Behavioral in my opinion comes down to 3 categories:
Honestly, most candidates aren’t memorable and they look the same. So being the guy/ girl that played a D1 sport, started a company, was a national champion at yo-yo, can actually be a pretty big deal because it shows a history of working hard and achievement.
Lastly, I don’t know if it’s the finance clubs these kids are in or what, but the arrogance is really unbelievable. I would guess 3/5 kids I have interviewed I reject because they rub you the wrong way due to extreme overconfidence. Don’t argue with your interviewer. If they say something wrong, either let it slide, or ask, “I’m probably wrong, but is this answer another way to view it?”
Bro touch grass lmao
??? What do you mean you're in a year long MBA program? Just taking classes or actually earning a degree (how would that even be allowed)
It's an uncredited pass/fail program through Haroun Education Ventures. Very in-depth and practical knowledge taught there. Obviously, I plan to get an actual MBA later but this is a good supplement.
Dude just chill. Wait until freshman year to actually become a hardo. You're already ahead of 99% of people who will go into IB. Just work on getting into a target.
Well I don't put all of my eggs in one basket. Like investing, I diversify the risk through learning knowledge applicable to a wide array of careers. Yes I am actively working on getting into a target school through extracurriculars, clubs, etc., but think it's a good decision to work on crafting skills now to get into BB. But I get the whole idea of "enjoying your youth while you still have it" and not becoming a corporate pawn right away -- and I do a lot of teenager-ish things like guitar, girls (especially girls), etc. -- but I just thoroughly love money.
I dunno how to respond to this
cringe
You will struggle to get into IB being this autistic. You might want to consider an alternate career. Alternatively, socialize with others so you learn social norms. I promise you, your biggest hurtle in recruiting (if you even do it) is going to be people finding you difficult to work with or you offending or rubbing people the wrong way by you not understanding how to act appropriately.
I was just focused on getting drunk with the boys and trying to lose my virginity my senior year of HS... kids these days trying to prep for IB lmao. Dude my best advice for you would be to chill out & enjoy life - you'll never be as close with your HS friends as you are now. By all means keep reading WSJ and read some finance books for fun if you want, but do not stress about "prepping" for IB. plenty of time for that in college since you seem like the hardo type
Yeah I've lost my virginity, I hang out with friends every week etc. I am not a loser completely enveloped in IB. But the notion that prepping for a career when I am 18 is pointless or less preferable is just not right. Yes, I am a hard worker. This is something I enjoy and since it is a competitive industry I want to get as much competitive edge as possible. This is something I've been interested in since fifth grade. I really don't understand why prepping for a career is so controversial with WSO people of all people.
Because you enjoy HS. Honestly, you either are lying about the amount of work you have done or your free-time.
I think you’re way ahead of where you need to be but if you have time I’d read bill keenan’s Discussion Materials. Gives you a different perspective on IB.
Thanks!
dude based on this post and the replies this has absolutely got to be bait lmfao
Not bait. Not sure how you got that impression. Just genuinely asking for some guidance from people in the industry.
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