University Courses

Does anybody know if there are any undergraduate course that are available in America, UK or Europe that would allow you to get into IB at a higher level than a lowly analyst due to the technical skill which you would gain from doing the course. Maybe certain 4-years masters or highly challenging Maths courses?

In the UK many people have not studied finance before they embark on an IB career, yet from what i'v heard in the US it is possible to major in finance at undergrad. Yet both would start at analyst level when an American student should have a far superior knowledge base.

Any thoughts?

3 Comments
 
Best Response

in America, there is a sense that everyone should "pay their dues". Suffer through 2 years as an analyst before life gets slightly better.

so even if they hire kids with widely different skill sets and/or background in finance, everyone still must go through the grunt work and be the bitch.

another point is that even if kids from UPENN Wharton come in w a finance degree, that does not mean they will be a better anlayst than the kid from a liberal arts school that is willing to bust his balls. attitude goes a long way as an analyst and by the end of the first year everyone is basically on the same level anyways...if the liberal arts kid is smart (which he probably is if he got the job in teh first place) he should be proficient in the basics of accounting, modeling in Excel and saying "yes sir, may i have another" by the end of year 1: these are the most importnat skills as an analyst in my opinion.

80% of what you need you learn on the job. the other 20% you pick up very quick working consistently over 80hrs a week.

the only way i've heard of skipping the "analyst stint" is getting an MBA...not that being an associate is much easier (more stressful, only slightly less hrs -- but more $$ of course)

 

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