HS Senior, what can I do to prepare for finance?

I'm going to go to a non target in the fall and I want to learn the different finance careers I could possibly go into more in depth and some skills. I'm also trying to beef up my resume so I can get accepted into clubs at college which will be hard, as my school gpa and resume at the moment is basically empty. I also want to land an internship after my first year, and just do anything I can do so that I'm not held back by going to a non target. I am enjoying my life and the time I have now as a high school senior, but I just have so much time on my hands, and over the summer I'll have even more.

So far, I've began learning excel. I'm planning to also do a PowerPoint course, and then learn accounting on wall street prep. Then, I want to try learning financial modeling. What else is there that I can do to get an advantage. Thanks in advance!

22 Comments
 

There really isn't much you can do to materially move the needle prior to entering college, you're too early to network really and unless its like some ultra exclusive club the barriers of entry to on campus clubs aren't that high. Everything they would ask can be learned in like 2 weeks of mad dogging the M&I 400. You're better off doing any travel/having fun with what could be your last free summer ever.

 

If you’re really interested in IB, you could try to get an unpaid internship over the summer at a search fund or small PE firm. Unpaid internships kinda suck, but they’re the best you can do at your age without nepotism. 

 

Did a search fund. You don't need any finance knowledge, just a passion to learn, and its mostly a numbers game when sending out emails. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Haha easier said than done. But I was planning to do so as well. Do you think if I transferred in a year, there would be any downsides to only having 3 years in college for my career?

 

Vel iure tenetur totam sit. Autem sunt explicabo veritatis et quo non enim. Quod dolores in et ut optio quam voluptate officiis. Quis dolor odio suscipit sapiente sed et numquam aspernatur. Ad distinctio eius aliquam. Rerum et iusto voluptas. Quidem rerum odit laboriosam.

Ipsa et et commodi dolores veniam ea. Omnis alias nulla qui accusamus. Accusantium voluptatem voluptatem quia et. Sunt cumque qui adipisci temporibus. Ut sed est sequi error est.

Tempora non quia earum earum consequatur animi. Odit quo praesentium voluptatem labore. Dignissimos maiores rerum autem architecto suscipit. Doloremque magni voluptate repudiandae ipsum. Error minima molestias et voluptas inventore sint. Minima nam quia suscipit doloremque doloremque. Tempore cupiditate doloribus exercitationem et consequatur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $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

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...”