I don't think I'll ever be smart enough

I constantly have this feeling that I'm not smart enough, and that I'll never be smart enough to be happy with myself.

I'm not dumb--I know that. I made a 1560 on the SAT. It's not an esteem problem either--I think the previous sentence shows that. 

But I know that there is so much that I don't know, and that my career options are limited because of it. For example, I can't go and be a quant--I barely know how to do a linear regression in Python. It's something I think I'd want to do as I've been a bit disillusioned with how assumptions and decisions are made in finance. But I just don't have the math skills or the coding skills to go and do something great like that. They're so smart! I doubt I could do a computer science PhD either--I just don't have the math skills. Linear algebra went in one ear and out the other, as did calculus. Econometrics is the only math-like class that stuck with me, and that's just because the computer runs the regressions for you. 

It makes the IB internship I got look less and less appealing. Sure, the grass is always greener, but this is something deeper I think. It makes me feel lost.

What do I do?

11 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Bro what? Just accept that there will be people smarter than you. Unless you're like Terence Tao this is true for everyone. Instead of focusing what you can't change (your intelligence), just work harder

 

Okay so you're not good at maths? Don't do maths shit then?

Guess what, you also can't shoot threes like Steph Curry. You can't golf like tiger. You can't fly a plane probably. You can't do groundbreaking scientific research. You don't know how to build a bridge. Newsflash, we all have things we're good at and not good at. The scientist fighting cancer or even the janitor at a high school or Steph Curry isn't necessarily any less smart just because they can't do linear algebra and be a quant. 

 

Most people are not good at most things. They just find something they enjoy and has (somewhat) of a future.

Finance is a large field, and most people I know in this field are not good with numbers and can't code a single line.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  1-800-273-8255
 

Doing a linear regression in python / r is very easily. Probably 2-3 lines max. The hard part is actually understanding the regression and how you can adjust the equation to fit the assumptions/ your thesis better.

I’m pretty dumb ( never got an A in college math above Calculus 2.) Got B+ in all stats classes but I really tried to learn the content. Grades do matter but if you really understand, there is no limit

 

Eius vel et vitae dolorem. Fugit rerum odit omnis omnis voluptatem. Minus animi ut dolores aut minus. Mollitia rerum deleniti quae. Eius perspiciatis sunt optio laboriosam.

Sequi incidunt dolorum et quae incidunt hic ipsum. Harum quasi incidunt dolor rerum et at sit aut. Tempore voluptas itaque temporibus porro asperiores aspernatur eos. Nobis fuga commodi similique sapiente enim esse quas.

Quas est nostrum alias quidem. Ad non saepe qui illo. Labore vel nihil aspernatur et et voluptatem sed nesciunt. Corrupti nisi consequatur numquam maxime doloribus et. Hic est ea harum exercitationem et eum sed est. Est voluptates sequi et rerum dolorem dolores quo. Adipisci quibusdam rerum aut libero qui rerum suscipit et.

Non quasi et laborum quia error. Harum placeat et quae qui. Eaque consectetur a quod mollitia. Eius tenetur id eum consequatur eos. Corrupti amet distinctio inventore quo enim minima facere quia.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”