Incoming @ UVA, now what?

Commited to UVA as an econ major for class of 2030. Started networking with a few leadeship members in finance clubs but besides that, what can I do to best prepare myself to be able to get into the top finance clubs such as AIF? Also before anybody tells me to go touch grass, I'll be golfing plenty and travelling. I juust have a lot of downtime on my hands right now and expect so in the summer as well. If any students at UVA that went through the club recruitment process happen to see this, would be extremely greatful if I could PM / hop on a call sometime. Thanks in advanced! Go Hoos!

25 Comments
 

To position yourself for success at UVA and maximize your chances of getting into top finance clubs like AIF (Alternative Investment Fund), here’s a strategic plan based on the most helpful WSO content:

1. Strengthen Your Technical Skills

  • Learn Financial Modeling & Excel: Start with beginner courses on financial modeling and Excel. Platforms like WSO or Wall Street Prep offer excellent resources.
  • Master Technical Concepts: Familiarize yourself with valuation techniques (DCF, comps, precedent transactions) and accounting basics. This will give you a head start for club interviews and technical prep.

2. Build a Strong Resume

  • Relevant Experience: If you have downtime, consider internships or part-time roles in finance-related fields (e.g., wealth management, accounting, or even a local investment firm).
  • Leadership Roles: Highlight leadership positions in high school or other extracurriculars. Clubs like AIF value driven, well-rounded candidates.
  • Certifications: Consider pursuing certifications like Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) or Wall Street Prep’s Financial Modeling Certification to stand out.

3. Network Strategically

  • Engage with Club Members: You’ve already started networking with leadership members in finance clubs—keep this up. Build genuine relationships and ask thoughtful questions about their experiences.
  • Alumni Outreach: Reach out to UVA alumni in finance roles. Use LinkedIn to connect and request informational interviews. Alumni can provide insights and potentially refer you to club leadership.
  • Peer Networking: Connect with other incoming students who share similar goals. Collaborating with peers can help you prepare for club recruitment.

4. Prepare for Club Recruitment

  • Understand Club Dynamics: Clubs like AIF and MII (McIntire Investment Institute) are highly competitive, with low acceptance rates. AIF, for example, is known for its strong alumni network and focus on investment banking and private equity.
  • Mock Interviews: Practice behavioral and technical questions. Clubs often test your knowledge of finance concepts and your ability to articulate your interest in finance.
  • Case Studies: Familiarize yourself with case studies and LBO modeling, as clubs like VVF (Virginia Venture Fund) and AIF may include these in their selection process.

5. Leverage UVA Resources

  • Finance Classes: Take advantage of UVA’s strong economics program and McIntire School of Commerce resources once you’re eligible.
  • Clubs Beyond Tier 1: While AIF and MII are top-tier, don’t overlook Tier 2 and Tier 3 clubs like Akpsi Business Fraternity or VVF. These can also provide valuable training and networking opportunities.

6. Stay Balanced

  • While it’s great to prepare, don’t forget to enjoy your summer and first year at UVA. Golfing and traveling are excellent ways to recharge and maintain balance.

If you’d like to connect with current UVA students who’ve gone through the process, consider reaching out via LinkedIn or WSO forums. Many are open to sharing advice or hopping on a quick call. Good luck, and Go Hoos!

Sources: UVA Undergrad for IB Recruiting, UVA Undergrad for IB Recruiting

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Prospect in IB-M&A

touch grass - uva incoming second year

I got sm downtime on my hands tho and I heard all the comps r comp so I'm tryna get an edge.

Any advice? 

 
Funniest

Analyst 1 in IB-M&A

Least obvious indian guy

Im not indian im white. What Indians play golf????

 
Most Helpful

I think AIF looks for people who are very smart, but importantly have something outstanding about them, like jeff, or some award, or unique internship experience. You'll need to be able to defend what you know very well too. MII looks for well spoken people who are pretty charismatic, in addition to being smart, AKPsi is really just a fit thing, you just have to be open to talking to people and have something unique about yourself. VVF looks for smart people, but large emphasis is that you can't be a bot. GMG seems to take a lot of more STEM-ish kids but mix of any of the above. Other clubs, I'm not as sure. If you're interested in the consulting clubs, they have a large emphasis on being a bit more open/extraverted (at least from what I've seen) and you have to talk through your thinking process clearly. Honestly, do a quick search on reddit and wso, you'll find some stuff about the clubs here. There's some noise along with true signal, but that's to be expected with anything online. 

 

One real tip, that I don't hear as often is ask good questions about something your interested in. If you have a genuine interest in something and you're curious how it would apply to the club you should mention it. If it comes up in conversation, talk about what you did over the summer, or something unique you did, it can really help you stand out too. One thing that I do suggest is avoid talking about day trading, I've seen a lot talk about it and it's harder to apply directly to what most of the investment clubs do.

 

Prospect in IB - Gen

One real tip, that I don't hear as often is ask good questions about something your interested in. If you have a genuine interest in something and you're curious how it would apply to the club you should mention it. If it comes up in conversation, talk about what you did over the summer, or something unique you did, it can really help you stand out too. One thing that I do suggest is avoid talking about day trading, I've seen a lot talk about it and it's harder to apply directly to what most of the investment clubs do.

What about fundemntal investing? I was thinking of working for my dad he has a small PA (couple million) where he does fundemental value investing and some options trading over the summer as I always wanted to learn how to invest. Additionally, If I was top musicians in my state for my respective instrument and won a award for a prestigious international writing competition do you think that could help me stand out (I think it has around 3% acceptance rate internationally). Also thank you very much for taking the time to reply. Greatly appreciated! 

 

Congrats man! UVA offers one of the best work hard/play hard/IB success dynamics 

Network with some people from your high school who are in these clubs. The way people get into these clubs is through connections - that gets you the interview (hardest part) and from there it's on you to show them things people have already mentioned here. Will add that I had an investment banking internship coming in, but I was out of state and didn't know anyone, so I didn't get any interviews at a single one of these clubs. You should def join a frat: it makes the UVA experience so much fun and the network of members will help you get not only into these clubs but also investment banks later on in recruiting. Once I decided to join one I didn't really care about the investment clubs so I avoided them and ended up at an EB (not Guggenheim). You can totally do well in recruiting without these clubs, they just help: I did all my technical prep myself (bought a course) and did a ton of networking (alumni of the clubs will still talk to you even if you didn't end up in their club, and they'll even give you referrals if you vibe with them enough).  I also didn't get into McIntire (like many other people I knew who had good GPAs and activities; they also placed well across BBs/EBs.) But your chances are still higher being in the clubs just to be clear. 

I was in a pretty disadvantageous position for recruiting but I still made it happen, and I know many other who did too. Don't beat yourself up if some stuff doesnt go to plan. 

TL/DR: Focus on getting a 4.0 your freshman year (not hard with effort), connect with people to get into these clubs, join a frat you like (dont do Bouse), make friends and drink beer. 

Congrats again man - you're gonna have an amazing four years

 

Intern in IB - Gen

Congrats man! UVA offers one of the best work hard/play hard/IB success dynamics 

Network with some people from your high school who are in these clubs. The way people get into these clubs is through connections - that gets you the interview (hardest part) and from there it's on you to show them things people have already mentioned here. Will add that I had an investment banking internship coming in, but I was out of state and didn't know anyone, so I didn't get any interviews at a single one of these clubs. You should def join a frat: it makes the UVA experience so much fun and the network of members will help you get not only into these clubs but also investment banks later on in recruiting. Once I decided to join one I didn't really care about the investment clubs so I avoided them and ended up at an EB (not Guggenheim). You can totally do well in recruiting without these clubs, they just help: I did all my technical prep myself (bought a course) and did a ton of networking (alumni of the clubs will still talk to you even if you didn't end up in their club, and they'll even give you referrals if you vibe with them enough).  I also didn't get into McIntire (like many other people I knew who had good GPAs and activities; they also placed well across BBs/EBs.) But your chances are still higher being in the clubs just to be clear. 

I was in a pretty disadvantageous position for recruiting but I still made it happen, and I know many other who did too. Don't beat yourself up if some stuff doesnt go to plan. 

TL/DR: Focus on getting a 4.0 your freshman year (not hard with effort), connect with people to get into these clubs, join a frat you like (dont do Bouse), make friends and drink beer. 

Congrats again man - you're gonna have an amazing four years

Thanks man! Is it fine if I network with people that did not go to my highschool? I don't really have a large UVA alumni network at my HS. I'm literally the only one from my grade to go probably because I'm OOS. What frats do you reccomend? I've heard some bad stereotypes about people in Touse so not really sure what to join. I would be willing to party maybe 1-2 times a week and preferably on the weekends too. I wouldn't say I'm a party animal / degenerate (although I can be sometimes) but not a complete bot either.

 

Just go to drush events and find the people that fit your vibe the best. You don't have to be degen or anything like that, just don't be a bot

 

streetnachos191

Rip a line or two at the interest meeting to show them you're a right tail risk taker who's ferda as hell — AIF second-year

Haha. Are you actually in AIF? If so, mind if I PM? Would love to chat more. 

 

Adding on to a lot of what others have mentioned, make sure your resume is polished and not some random chatted BS. -- 2nd yr in a top club, feel free to PM

 

Aperiam quia enim in in et ut id. Odit dolores minima sed voluptatum nostrum. Itaque itaque consequatur voluptatem fuga ut.

Sunt vitae autem sed occaecati quae quibusdam. Earum nihil sit consequatur nobis animi magni dolorem. Sed et suscipit fuga asperiores sequi aspernatur. Sunt laborum pariatur qui saepe et sunt rem.

Fugiat occaecati delectus sapiente doloribus. Commodi ab sit iste nihil atque. Voluptatem culpa at officia blanditiis.

Qui dolorem ducimus ex ducimus. Non qui id necessitatibus et dolores ea cupiditate. Alias perspiciatis magni voluptas id. Quia aliquam sint dicta animi velit. Corporis quod facere officiis et dolorum voluptas. Iusto ipsa sapiente expedita aut quasi deleniti.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”