Lost Freshman @ Binghamton University

Hi WSO Community,

I’m a freshman at Binghamton University pursuing a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Management Information Systems. I’m eager to break into high finance, specifically investment banking or equity research, and I just wish I had someone to guide me through this process.  I just interview for and was accepted into the esteemed Binghamton Investment Fund, which is a long-only 600K AUM multi-asset class fund that positions a lot of its members for finance internships in that summer after junior year (a lot of placement at Jefferies, Barclays, MS, Houlihan, one or two Goldman, JPM, Guggenheim, Nomura and Mizuho). 

I would just say I'm a little lost on what to do right now. I've thought about joining a fraternity, but I feel that pledging is too big of a time commitment and even without it I barely eked out a 3.5 this past fall semester.  I'm really trying to network and apply to internships, but it seems that almost no one is looking for freshmen, and my prospects of getting an internship next summer is looking really low.  

Given that I’m still early in my college journey, I’d really appreciate any advice on:

• Skills to Develop: What technical or soft skills should I focus on building now to stand out later?

• Networking Strategies: How can I effectively build relationships with professionals in IB/ER as a freshman?

• Internship Opportunities: What types of internships or experiences should I prioritize before applying for high finance roles?

• Certifications or Courses: Are there any certifications (e.g., Bloomberg, Wall Street Prep) or online courses you’d recommend for someone in my position?

• Additional Involvement: Beyond the investment fund, what other activities or organizations should I consider joining to strengthen my application?

• Mistakes to Avoid: Any common pitfalls I should watch out for as I work towards my goals?

Thank you all so much in advance for your time.  I know most of ya'll are super busy and I appreciate the time. Really eager to learn from this community!