Balancing Studying/Life

Recently started university. I go to the gym every other day, play basketball once a week for the team, jiu jitsu twice, go out out 1-2 times a week, date once or so a week.

I have around 18hrs contact a week, with difficult but short problem sets. I feel like I’m slightly behind on knowledge, with it being slightly problematic due to the abstract nature of the content. Anyways, manageable.

I want to improve my machine learning skills by doing Kaggle challenges. My degree doesn’t cover ML/A.I topics at the moment, but will later. Problem is, I feel like I don’t have the time.

How do people get the time to study for stuff outside their degree? Is this just me being new to university?

I’m asking on a finance forum because I know many of you grinded IB technicals and what not, which I imagine requires a similar time commitment on a week by week basis.

Will I have to give up some of my social life? Looking to get into prop trading / trading or research (in AM preferably).

12 Comments
 

What does this mean: 

“I have around 18hrs contact a week”

Is this 18 credit hours of classes?

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

18 hours of classes / lectures. Not sure what you mean by credit - content learned is examined mid way and at the end of the year depending on module.

 
pinkdoughnut11

18 hours of classes / lectures. Not sure what you mean by credit - content learned is examined mid way and at the end of the year depending on module.

What is your major? Don’t worry too much about studying outside of your degree. Just focus on a *perfect* GPA and good internships.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

I have deleted these - problem is sometimes they are useful and I get sucked in.

for example, using ig to msg dates, youtube to watch a study video etc quickly spirals into doom scrolling. I’ve recognised it and defo gotten better, but could probably get another 30 min a day.

 

Yes, it’s because you just started university. 16 x 5 = 80 hours a week (8 hours sleep and weekends completely free. Subtract 20 hours for class and you still have 60. Even if you add 3 hours a day to study (likely unnecessary) and 2 to shower, eat, etc., you still have 35 hours left…7 a day. Add a 25% kicker for bullshit…you still have plenty of time 

 

-

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Fuga dolorem mollitia dignissimos. Quis nam ut voluptatem ea doloremque et quo. Unde commodi non iure doloremque velit eligendi. Veritatis suscipit aut aliquid excepturi consequatur nam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”