High school junior prepping for high finance
Hello all,
I've been a long-time lurker on this forum for a while now.
For a few years, I've decided that a career in high finance is my life goal. To that end, I've taken several business/finance/accounting courses at my nearest college in accounting, business law, statistics, and calculus, as well as other quantitative science courses in physics, chemistry, computer science, and biology. Along with the obvious courses of AP Micro and Macro.
I'm an assistant manager helping in accounting with a family friend's company, and I've run a drop-shopping company with ~$8000 in profits over the summer. I guess my final business-related ECs are less prestigious, just founding a business-management club at my high school and an internship with the DA.
Academically, I hope to attend a target/semi-target such as UC Berkeley/IU Kelley/BYU/etc. If I do not get in, I am considering attending community college for a year to transfer to a target.
As of now, I want to begin preparing for financial technicals. I admit, I don't know heads from tails when it comes to even starting to begin studies. Do you guys know where to start studying topics such as financial modeling, Powerpoint, Excel, etc.? I've seen the courses on WSO, but I was wondering if you guys have any alternative opinions on where to begin.
Also, I've seen EdX certifications about skills like the ones mentioned above. Do you guys have any perspective on those? Should I even bother?
One last question: Would it be beneficial to try to major in engineering or some other quantitative degree to gain a leg up in a financial career? I'm thinking of trying to double major in a STEM + Business degree, but I've heard differing opinions on the idea.
Sorry for the long post all, but I'd love to get your guys' opinions on the stuff. None of my family knows a whole lot about this stuff, and everything I think I know comes from online sources. Sorry for typing such a huge essay, but I want to hear your guys' opinions on what I should do. I know these jobs are super competitive, so I want to start as soon as I can.
Also, by high finance I mean a possible career in IB or PWM/AM, then maybe pivoting to a PE/VC role post-MBA?
I'm not quite sure about the details, but I'm also aware of Big 4 --> MBA --> high finance/MBB consulting jobs. If anyone has any possible info on those, I would like appreciate it a lot.
Related to learning about finance, focus on reading as much about accounting, understanding financial statements, and the role of financial institutions for businesses. Modeling courses may be a little over your head if you don’t have a basic understanding of the above. Bill Ackman has a great YouTube video explaining financial statements that I highly recommend.
Above that, you should have a much higher focus on getting a great GPA and SAT score as getting into a good college with an extensive alumni base is the best way to maximize your chance to network into these types of roles.
Starting this early is great because the timeline to recruit is getting earlier every year. However, don’t forget to live your life, you’re 17!
Thanks for your input. I'm actually in an accounting course learning about the stuff you just said. I'll be sure to check out Bill Ackman and some modeling courses maybe once I finish financial accounting.
Academically, it's a grind. Lol.
Yeah, I've heard finance is getting insanely competitive now and going to a target/semi target is basically a necessity unless you're graduating with a STEM degree?
Dude, go out and enjoy life. This job is just a job.
You're gonna wake up in 20 years and wonder why you never had any fun.
Will do, just trying to get a step ahead for my future.
Dude, don't worry about this right now. After a long day of work, all I can think about is how much fun I had being an idiot in HS and Freshman year of college. This is not worth racking your brain over during these years of your life.
Nice yo!
I'm also a HS sophomore lurker on the forum, also wondering similar questions. I will be (Int'l) applying to top CA/US schools (Ivies, and T10).
I'm wondering, why do you not shoot for the top, rather than going to a mid school like IUB, or BYU? You have very good stats, and can even improve more on them during the year! I'm no expert, and even need advice since I'm younger than you, but why don't you start your initiative project, or something big? I think this could help you greatly.
Hey, nice to meet you.
I’m coming from a super competitive high school where the acceptance rate is ~30%. Because of this, it’s super hard to get into selective colleges from my school b/c everyone is legitimately super gifted. As for advice, my best input is to focus on GPA (all years matter), and try to get a job/internship in a business-adjacent field. For me personally, I just reached out to a friend’s dad because it’s such a rich school, but I’m sure you can find some high school alumni using LinkedIn.
Personally, since I'm an immigrant, I go to a mid school, and am in top of my class. But why do you think that it is so hard to get in to T20 from your school? Maybe you won't graduate top of your class, but why should that mean to go to a community college? Is your GPA too low, or is your school so harsh at grading? I just think there's no way you're gonna end up anywhere not in T20, or even a community college. I even regret sometimes coming to Canada, because I was able to attend the best school in my home country, and now I'm in a mid school.
Also, regarding your advice on reaching out to my HS alumni, my school doesn't send many students to top school, and most graduates are locals. But I do reach out to a lot of university people, and looking into getting a search fund internship before graduating.
An initiative project, is one where you initiate something. You have to build it from ground up. It's mostly community oriented, and helps a lot with Canadian and probably US applications. For example, starting a charity drive, or starting a volunteering tutoring project.
By the way, I’ve never heard of an initiative project. Is that like a community service project?
think there are some videos on yt relating to reading financial statements as referenced above. Don't think you need to learn "accounting" in the debits and credits context and more so just need to know the basics of how financial statements work. Honestly you learn most of the skills necessary for this career on the job / on ur own...most academic coursework relating to accounting / finance is generally pretty disconnected from the real world. On that point, learn about investing thru reading. Would almost recommend that you hold off on developing the hard skills as they will come thru experience and time automatically.
My second piece of advice is to start following stocks / markets...think this is a pretty manageable thing for someone your age. see if u can get a WSJ subscription or get on X/Twitter and follow some of the big investing accounts (ur algo will start suggesting markets related stuff naturally). this will pay dividends down the line as you will recognize different market cycles
Just wanna say that I'm a senior in hs myself and proud of you. My goal is IUB Kelley, but you can achieve a T10 or at LEAST T20. Forget community college. Make sure to prep for SAT, based on your story, I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm taking classes at a CC in Excel right now myself, but not doing any financial modeling. I am reading a book about IB, HFs, and PE and I believe it gets into some actual financial modeling. I'd personally recommend you learn the ins and outs of Microsoft Office and get efficient with it. Good luck bro!
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