Most useful classes!

I've seen way too many threads on the finance major being useless and that engineers are smarter.

But we all know major doesn't mean shit so lets focus on classes. What were the most useful classes you've taken in regards to banking/ trading/ finance? And then what were the most useful classes you took in general?

I'll start off.

for finance, financial accounting was the most important. The stuff is way too boring to learn on your own but too fundamental to skip. No need to study the intermediate / advanced ones imo.

In general, the most important class was a chinese etiquette seminar ( I want to work in China ). That class saved my life.

so far:

Finance: Financial Accounting corporate finance

General: Chinese Etiquette (for those interested in China)

25 Comments
 

Financial modelling & Financial analysis statements

For my non-major course my favorite class is one on modern Chinese literature (and yes it was in Mandarin). We got a really cool teacher who only use readings with lots of dark humor/sarcasm in it, it was fun, but I still remember having to look up like a shitload of new words :|

My formula for success is rise early, work late and strike oil - JP Getty
 

Damn, and I thought this was gonna be a Call of Duty thread.

Pretty much the same classes you all mentioned:

Accounting 101 Macroeconomics Business Statistics Principles of Finance (DCF, TVM, DDM) Capital Markets International Finance

My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.
 

Check out the syllabuses, and look for corporate finance/ M&A cases and modeling.

My guess is that it will be in the below order:

  1. Corporate Financial MGMT
  2. Security Valuation
  3. Managerial Economics
 
Best Response

Definitely financial statement analysis.

During the interview process, a strong foundation of accounting principles and how the statements interconnect can be a great asset during the barrage of interview questions derived from this topic.

Additionally, when you actually get to the job, the ability to rip apart financial statements and build them from scratch will play a crucial role to model building, comparable companies analysis, and comprising CIMs (credit information memorandums). CIMs are essentially lengthy .pdf files that are used during the marketing phase in sell side M&A to blast Private Equity firms for prospective business. Throughout these CIMs, a wide variety of financial metrics are used as you find new and exciting ways to slice and repackage the information in the financial statements.

Hope this helps, and best of luck in the class you pick! Study hard and get an A! :)

 
NabooruPub401: How to Not Act Like a Total Ivy League Douchebag in Front of the Lesser Common Folk

Is that seriously a real class? Lol.

Competition is a sin. -John D. Rockefeller
 

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