What should I do to get into IB after being diagnosed with cancer 3 times
So, as the title implies, I’ve been diagnosed with cancer three times already and it made it impossible for me to get into a target or even semi target uni.
First time i got diagnosed was at the start of year 12, then at end of year 13, and now at second year of uni. Because of the first two diagnosis i actually only took 1 A-Level, Mathematics, and ended up getting a D. I know it’s embarrassing but at the time i was trying to survive so i did the absolute minimum.
Now, im stuck in second year of Heriot Watt studying Finance with aspirations of making into IB, but lost on how to make it there or if its even possible. The only evidence i have that i am worthy of IB are my uni grades, i averaged an A from foundation year to second year, but im not sure this is even relevant.
Thanks in advance for your guys advice!
I don't really have specific advice for this situation but amazing job kicking cancer's ass.
It might not be the best move to go for a career that prioritizes destroying your body.
The best I got is get those grades up as high as possible and explain the story why your cumulative gpa might not be the right tool to measure you on.
Although I would probably recommend you find another passion and pursue it. I don't know exactly how cancer works but doing all nighters and getting screamed at in a stressful environment 24/7 might not be best.
It's not even healthy for people who haven't survived through what you've survived.
Best of luck!
Thanks for your advice and thanks for the praise🫶
I know that IB hours are grueling and may not be healthy, but I want to do something meaningful, i want a good career and i am really passionate about finance.
Treatment ends this july, in a few months ill have recovered and ill be able to attend uni again and hopefully find an internship for my third year.
What about VC? Feel like you would have a great story to tell that would resonate with a lot of founders.
I know high finance is glorified endlessly in the general media so the general opinion of teenagers is that we are masters of the universe, but the reality is far less fun or glamorous for all but the top 0.000001% of finance employees.
Don't want to burst your bubble, but that's just true and you know that from all the depressing posts on here. Particularly if you are at risk of further chronic health issues or a shortened life expectancy, I wouldn't waste your life away in IB.
First, if you have decent grades, you can try to change the uni, a friend of mine lateralled to LSE from a non-target (RG though). But if you graduate with a degree from Herriot Watt, I suggest to try to find a job at F500 and lateral to the given coverage group, alternatively (safer bet) get into B4 TAS/Corp Fin. On a health side, IB is demanding and not sure what you cancer was but I’d also say to don’t feel limited and pursue your dreams - once in IB, you can always exit after 2 years or so for other interesting and well paid opps
Thanks for the advice,
Im actually already looking to transfer unis but most of them dont take 2nd or 3rd year transfers, im looking at liverpool, exeter, birmingham, do you think any of these could help? and do you have any idea how often top tier unis like LSE KCL take transfers?
Also, the cancer isn’t debilitating per say, i just have one really bad eye.
I wouldn’t say KCL is top tier imho Exeter is very decent and if you can transfer there, then do it. Much better than Herriot Watt. Also, since you are undergoing treatment / have chronic health issues due to cancer, please reach out to EmployAbility - it’s a charity that helps to land job offers for disabled people, and they have a special pipeline to JPM and Goldman for summer internships, so keep an eye for internship openings around summer time on their website
I had cancer a few times too, I don't have much advice because you are very young, keep your grades up and try to transfer to the best school you can get into. Perhaps the only mistake in my career was not doing the same at your age.
Your school should offer to let you omit those courses from your gpa, try to negotiate a pass/fail grade, or retake those courses. If they don't your administrators aren't acting in your best interests and should be ashamed. Look into what tools you have for dispute resolution if all else fails.
You might also want to take a semester off if you need it. Also, think carefully if your diagnosis is your only problem or whether or not you made mistakes as well. Unfortunately, your circumstances won't help with your job interviews until you are in remission; then you can discuss what you are comfortable sharing as an anecdote about your work ethic, before that you may be seen as too much of on outlier for people to understand and relate to.
You aren't substantially behind your peers since as a year two undergraduate you still have time to get a boutique/regional PE or IB internship. I would also try to find a search fund to get something on your resume while you look for internships.
Thanks for the advice man,
Im actually looking at some slightly better unis to transfer to currently which hopefully will help me.
I have really good grades so far in uni, i have had an A average for these first two years despite me undergoing treatment, I think in america an A average would be a 3.4-4 gpa.
I definitely understand what you mean, because im undergoing chemo right now and look different i didnt bother applying to any summer internships this year, or the previous year because i assumed i wouldnt get accepted for any of them.
If finance recruiting doesn't work out do a research project for one of the doctors in your oncology department. It will help you build your application for university transfers while you think of something.
I would prioritize your health and do something else. This job is brutal.
Many will call me a hater, but I am saying what I would do, if I were in your position.
I get it, its just that outside of the cancer, im healthy and young. Finance is the only passion i have outside of sports.
If not IB, then which other similar roles could provide the same pay without the long hours?
ER (by far the most underrated job in finance), Corp Dev, Commodities Trading, starting your own business....
Nowadays, a ton.
But if you really like IB, you can always go for it, and then quit if it's damaging your body or w/e.
Do you think an ER analyst really has much better wlb than an average IB analyst? I’m surprised to hear that because I was told that ER works 9am - midnight in large banks whereas IB can actually have similar hours (start later like 11am, then have a break in the middle of the day, and then indeed work on comments in the night), but overall I didn’t see much difference from the wlb perspective
No, ER does not have better WLB in all cases. Earnings can be 80+ hours per week. Initiations can create weeks of similar length. Because teams are so lean, work is never “dead.”
Hours are probably ~60ish/week, vs. ~70ish/week in IB on average. However, this can fluctuate wildly. A more intense IB team can work 90+ hour weeks on average. A more laid back one at a small bank could be less intense than ER.
It isn't. Also, bonuses are typically significantly less because you're not a primary revenue driver.
It's probably more interesting to most people and you can actually get recognized for your insights/media interest as you move up, but it's not an easy gig.
Props for kicking cancers ass 3 times! Truly amazing feat.
I am also a cancer survivor of about 20 years now. Only one time, but still suffering in banking at a small boutique.
Highly resonate with transferring to a target and/or delaying graduation. Breaking into IB outside of SA is next to impossible and I've worked harder and made less money than all my friends who were on the summer analyst (SA) track. They are on to buyside/promoted to associate at his point.
You need to lean into your story as much as possible, college essays when you look to transfer, choice of coverage group at bank, everything. If you say you want to go into biotech because you suffered cancer treatments 3 times and you want to work somewhere that can change that, this will for sure spark emotions with your interviews/admissions counselors etc.
Try hard for what you want and hedge your bets with less competitive jobs as you look to break in. You can always go to grad school with hopes of breaking in at the Associate level.
Feel free to pm with additional questions.
Many companies have a tab where you can put health information or similar. Just put it there and see what happens. If a wallstreet firm would actually fire you for getting treatment or simlar you just go to thr press, like seriously.
Working in finance has a brutal toll on human health. The stress, hours, politics, for some the travel, the challenging clients...
I would argue that one would have to be 100% healthy to make it in finance, but that health is a declining asset for most people on the job.
Like others have said, I would focus on health first and enjoy life. You are one of the few who would appreciate life a lot more than others.
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