I don't know shit about banking

I'm a freshman as an undergrad biz major, and while I've been lurking on multiple forums lately, I still don't know how to start learning the careers in finance and what I want to do. The natural route for Undergrad Biz majors is investment banking, but I only know the surface of it, and I can't take any legit finance classes until sophmore year.

Additionally, I'm stressed because I don't know what I'm doing over the summer. I've read here that PWM is a good stepping stone into IB, and I live in NYC, but I don't know how effective cold-emailing at this point would do, especially since I don't know anything about investment banking other than examples of what they do.

Currently I attend CMU's Tepper B school, but also got a GT from Cornell's AEM for fall 2017, which seems to be apparently a target for IBs.

In brief, what should I start doing to learn more about banking other than its insanely long hours and big bucks? The advice I've heard so far is

1)read financial news 2)read books 3)Start looking at markets, maybe trade by yourself --- but how the hell am i suppose to start doing this??

I would appreciate any help from you seasoned users here on WSO. Thank You.

2 Comments
 
Best Response

Start working on the side to earn cash to trade. Otherwise, simply paper trade. Just start a spread sheet and build out a portfolio from there. Track the symbol, name and price. I would also make a note as to why you would have bought/sold. Check out different sites like finviz, yahoo finance and investopedia. Also, if you have not already taken an accounting course, get introduced to the financial statements. Get your text books as soon as possible to start wrapping your head around the material. This will help academically, which should carry forward with your career.

Only two sources I trust, Glenn Beck and singing woodland creatures.
 

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