Recent high school graduate, 18 years old. Would love any advice

Hi everyone,

I've recently graduated high school and will be attending the University of Georgia in the fall, majoring in finance.

I've been interested in finance from a very early age and have been investing in my own brokerage account since I was 14. I absolutely love researching companies that are trading below their fair value, buying and holding them for the long term and realizing a profit when the market offers me something I can't refuse ( buy low sell high!). I feel I have a very strong financial acumen especially for my age, and understand how the financial industry works.

I've been interested in pursuing a career in investment banking for 2+ years now since, it seems like a very exciting line of work. Working with clients to help raise capital and evaluate companies seems right up my alley as I am a very social person as well as enjoy the analytical work involved in investment banking.

With all this being said, if anyone could offer any advice on how to break into the industry/ how to best prepare my self for a future career on Wall Street that would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

Clayton

12 Comments
 

Enjoy school, do well your first year, get a related internship in your summers before junior year, and start to talk to alumni in the industry. But above all, really do take time to enjoy yourself (shouldn't be hard at UGA). Banking shouldn't consume your thoughts so early.

 

Yes keep my GPA high is definitely very important to me especially for my easier first year classes. Hopefully working at the same time won't get in the way ( only plan on working 3 days a week though)

And yeah LOL it's hard to have a bad time in Athens. AWESOME place...

When you said before junior year would that include summer of my freshman year going into sophomore or just summer going to into junior year?

"Buy when there's blood in the streets, even if the blood is your own." - Baron Rothschild
 

Yeah I'm still on the fence about rushing or not. Not entirely sold on Greek life yet.

I'm sure being a fraternity would be a good time but its hard to have a bad time in Athens regardless if your in a fraternity or not, it'd be a different story if I was going to a school without a down town scene.

So what are some good reasons for joining a fraternity? I'm going to be working 20ish hours a week so would that get in the way?

"Buy when there's blood in the streets, even if the blood is your own." - Baron Rothschild
 

Good luck pledging and working 20 hours a week...

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
Best Response
Sinatra007

So what are some good reasons for joining a fraternity? I'm going to be working 20ish hours a week so would that get in the way?

Most people will give you reasons along the lines of networking and such, and beleive me that's a good reason, but first and foremost the most important thing you'll gain is the brotherhood, and I'm not just bullshitting you on that. Not to mention the girls and parties.

Pledging can be rough at times, but just remember that everyone had to do it. It'll be the best semester that you'll never want to have again. In my opinion the 20 hours a week of working won't be an issue. There were guys in my pledge class that took 17 credits their freshman year and still got a 3.8+ even with that intense course load and pledging.

I'd give you some names of houses but I'm obviously biased against my own, which I know has a solid GA house.

 

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