1 month to learn any topic before B-school. What to learn?
Hey, I will be going to a top 15 B-school this summer and I still have a month at my job as an analyst at a valuation shop (think Duff and Phelps) with no real work to do. I want to use b-school as a career switch into an investment management role as a analyst in a small regional Hedge (long)/VC/PE fund and such.
I am unable to do much networking now since I am not yet in my B-school's geographic area. Instead I want to study a topic that I don't know in depth during my last month at my job. What would be better for me to study? VC related (term sheets ect.) or PE related topics? What is the best way to go about it? If any one has good sources of information that would also be great to know about.
Thanks
I have been at my firm for 3 years. So modeling isn't the issue. Trying to get ready for VC/Hedge Fund specific questions.
I'm making a change as well, albeit from PWM to consulting. Personally, I have been casually reading consulting books (McKinsey Way, Consulting Bible) in my spare time, but as far as actually studying and trying to get subjects down I have been going through topics more relevant to coursework. The way I am looking at it is that I will learn the consulting part of it once I get to school so I want to make sure the core courses like accounting and micro economics don't slow me down.
Just my 2 cents
Good Idea. I have started reading a number of blogs on VCs to get a feel for the industry. I am also going over some accounting material, even though I don't think accounting will be a problem for me since I deal with it all day.
Take the time off to relax. Hang out with friends, travel, do something completely unrelated. I like the idea of casually reading blogs to keep on top of the industry but I wouldn't go further than that now. You'll have a much better story (which is crucial) if you enter a meeting and you can talk about your summer climbing Kilimanjaro than if you spent the summer reading some VC101 book.
I would pick a sector that you find interesting and investable.
This works for VC/PE/Hedge Fund. Find an industry or industry vertical that you want to learn about, follow a few companies, and learn about trends in those markets.
Buyside firms at the end of the day do just that on a grand scale, so have conversational pieces ready. Makes people think you have potential to be an investor (as well as yourself, hopefully you enjoy this kind of research).
Trust me, you'll be busy enough during business school. Take this time to chill and recharge.
Agree with the sentiment that you should not try too hard to study for your future career. You'll have plenty of resources when you get to business school, including your classmates and faculty members, not to mention career resources and alums. Do something really really different. If you have to sit and read blogs all day, read about stuff you never knew about. Perhaps something intellectually challenging, that on the surface may have nothing to do with business, but you will later on find to be relevant. History? Philosophy? Biographies of unusual people?
Another idea is to read faculty blogs. Some business school stars have written extremely cool stuff, for example, Adam Grant, from Wharton has a blog based on his book, Dan Ariely from Duke is really interesting, Chip Heath from Stanford, and Harvard Business Review blogs (particularly the ones written by real faculty rather than executive coaches).
Enjoy this time! Don't wear yourself out!
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