Starting Over - How do I work this?

Hello, all.

I am currently attending a no-name community college in Florida working on a useless, non-transferrable Associates of Science. When I started college I had no clue what I wanted to do, and basically wasted two years of my life when I graduate.

I am looking to move to Santa Fe Community College and ideally transfer into UF's MSF program - upon speaking to their director she told me it was incredibly difficult to come in as a third year, but I would like to try regardless.

When I switch to SF I will be starting over, completely blank, on my AA before I transfer over to UF. How can I best utilize this time to get into the MSF program, and secure internships? Is this even feasible coming from a community college? Or with my weirdly long amount of time spent getting my AA? I would transfer to UF directly but unfortunately I did very poorly in HS aside from a fantastic SAT.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am genuinely very keen on Finance (Crossing my fingers for something in LevFin) and want to know the best way forward here.

Thanks!

 

You could do it, but it will not be easy.

How good is your SAT?

It’s not totally clear from your post where you are in your education, but your best bet might be to try to finish a degree in something finance related, then try to recruit for big 4 audit, do that for a while and then try to recruit for MM analyst roles (do research on LinkedIn for what MMs have some folks on their team that came from audit). You’ll have to take what you get and then can maybe try to move toward lev fin over time.

Again, this will not be easy, but I do think it is possible. Moreover, I think operating on this directional idea will be beneficial - for example even in a “downside” case you could be a big 4 careerist, nothing to scoff at.

 

I'm graduating with my AS in May. SAT was a 1510.

I would go the Bachelor's in Finance/Econ/Stats route if I can't get into UF's MSF program, but to get into the MSF it requires me to have secured a junior summer internship.

"However, transfer students and juniors that have secured a junior summer internship at the firm they expect to accept a full time offer may apply during their junior year to complete the MSF degree by the end of their fourth year. Course timing is tricky."

The route you suggested is definitely in the back of my mind and my fallback option, but I'm really looking to see what I can do to try and get internships for eligibility into this program when I'm coming from a CC.

 

That's a solid SAT. Personally I put credence into standardized testing, and so do others in the industry, so this will help you.

An MSF is what like a bachelors in finance? Or a masters you get in 4yrs of undergrad?

From your text it sounds like you don't need an internship if you transfer, or do you need one even if you transfer?

If you’re basically in need of just any internship that you can say you are expecting to go to full time after you graduate, then can just look on job boards right? Will not be possible to get something at a bank with a CC degree - just want to be up front about that. But I could see something corporate with the 2yrs of CC and transferring to a 4yr to finish background.

 

No, the internship is a pre-requisite to transfer into the program. It is a 4 year expedited Masters, but basically the only reason to attend UF, the program is high quality and sets you up very well for the industry afaik. The internship has to be at a bank, but the requirements seem to not be super specific, even after discussing with the director it wasn't clear.

 

Dolorem voluptate non voluptas atque. Eos officiis labore ea quia. Alias ipsa modi voluptate tempore ducimus molestias vel.

Voluptatem vero eveniet velit perspiciatis sint culpa. Voluptatem optio ut quos eos ut vel. Expedita ut est eos tempora molestiae.

Repellendus impedit quibusdam numquam eius. At deleniti quas non fugiat vero. Ipsum dolor modi eos aliquam molestiae impedit qui. Fugit earum totam in vel omnis eum. Assumenda sapiente ex et iure et. Qui recusandae consequatur est rerum accusamus.

Beatae dolores dolores atque sit animi. Dolorem voluptatem ea explicabo asperiores veniam. Nemo enim et saepe et. Nisi quasi ipsum laudantium quod ut. Facere ab deleniti et incidunt et quas ut. Enim ut sunt consequatur eum blanditiis cupiditate unde facilis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”