Advice for an 8th Grader?

Hello, I am currently an 8th grader at a reputable private middle school (for my safety, I will not be disclosing the specific school). I am wondering if the professionals of Wall Street have any advice for someone who wants to become an investment banker?

I am currently maintaining a 4.0 grade point average, and I will continue to do so during high school, so that I can go to Wharton to study Finance. That is about all you need to know about myself.

I know that investment banking is the only job for me, so if I could have some insider advice, that would be fantastic.

 

Get an internship this summer at Goldman if you can. At your age, they will probably let you serve food in the cafeteria.

Now, when you see professionals in the cafeteria, try and join them for lunch. At this point, you can initiate an informal interview and ask about their experience at the firm, career goals, and why they chose i-banking.

I'd also work on your modeling this summer and maybe take a few trips to Wharton and Harvard. It's good you started just as early as I did.

I actually had a PWM internship the summer before my freshman year in college. I outperformed juniors and sophmores lol.

 
Lord Blankfein:
Get an internship this summer at Goldman if you can. At your age, they will probably let you serve food in the cafeteria.

Now, when you see professionals in the cafeteria, try and join them for lunch. At this point, you can initiate an informal interview and ask about their experience at the firm, career goals, and why they chose i-banking.

I'd also work on your modeling this summer and maybe take a few trips to Wharton and Harvard. It's good you started just as early as I did.

I actually had a PWM internship the summer before my freshman year in college. I outperformed juniors and sophmores lol.

Lord Blankfein, thank you for the serious response. You seem to be a rarity amongst your peers. I am very inspired by your words, and am glad there is someone else who was interested as early as me. I am going to look up Goldman Sachs opportunities right now.

 

Honestly, I feel like people that troll this site to inquire about Investment Banking careers while pretending they're not even in college yet are ruining everything that was once great about this site. Those guys disgust me.

 
Eamon:
Honestly, I feel like people that troll this site to inquire about Investment Banking careers while pretending they're not even in college yet are ruining everything that was once great about this site. Those guys disgust me.

Eamon, I am really sorry you think that. I have been an avid reader on this site since I first became interested in investment banking. I truly do not mean to be destroying it. If there is any other site where someone as young as me can go to be taken seriously, could I have that link?

 
Eamon:
Honestly, I feel like people that troll this site to inquire about Investment Banking careers while pretending they're not even in college yet are ruining everything that was once great about this site. Those guys disgust me.

eamon...you still sTROLL this forum interesting

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
Eamon:
Honestly, I feel like people that troll this site to inquire about Investment Banking careers while pretending they're not even in college yet are ruining everything that was once great about this site. Those guys disgust me.

Do you mean aside from rising freshman? It think its reasonable for someone in that position (like me) to want to get some advice on majors and/or schools. But yeah this kid is absurd. I agree that the presence these kind of trolls are exactly the opposite of what attracted me to this site in the first place (an incredibly helpful community).

 
Eamon:
Honestly, I feel like people that troll this site to inquire about Investment Banking careers while pretending they're not even in college yet are ruining everything that was once great about this site. Those guys disgust me.

Haha Eamon from "Exeter".... long time no lie eh?

All things equal however, stupid troll thread, OP please go f*ck yourself.

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 
Best Response
youngone:
The very community you posters are all swearing I am destroying, clearly was never strong in the first place, if someone cannot get advice simply because they are young. I really do want helpful information, and am not trying to be disrespectful or destructive.

If you actually are in 8th grade @ a solid prep school:

1) Do your work, prep schools inflate grade and high school really isn't that hard

2) Get a blowjob or two.... party. You won't be able to have any sort of client-facing career if people think you have a telephone pole up your pooper.

3) Read... widely. Read about economics, classic literature, science, technology, politics and everything you can. It will make you more interesting to talk to and you might (and probably will) adjust your career goals significantly in the next 5-10 years.

4) Don't worry so much about the future that you get lost in delusions of grandeur, it leads to clinical neurosis and it will help you neither achieve your future nor pound quality tail in the present.

5) Go play sports, do debate, paint, whatever. I went to prep school too and the resources you have access too are something you are blessed with and should seize with both hands. WSO is not a productive place for a 14 yo.

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 
Independent Gestion:
youngone:
The very community you posters are all swearing I am destroying, clearly was never strong in the first place, if someone cannot get advice simply because they are young. I really do want helpful information, and am not trying to be disrespectful or destructive.

If you actually are in 8th grade @ a solid prep school:

1) Do your work, prep schools inflate grade and high school really isn't that hard

2) Get a blowjob or two.... party. You won't be able to have any sort of client-facing career if people think you have a telephone pole up your pooper.

3) Read... widely. Read about economics, classic literature, science, technology, politics and everything you can. It will make you more interesting to talk to and you might (and probably will) adjust your career goals significantly in the next 5-10 years.

4) Don't worry so much about the future that you get lost in delusions of grandeur, it leads to clinical neurosis and it will help you neither achieve your future nor pound quality tail in the present.

5) Go play sports, do debate, paint, whatever. I went to prep school too and the resources you have access too are something you are blessed with and should seize with both hands. WSO is not a productive place for a 14 yo.

Independent Gestion, although much of your response was crass, I found a lot of helpful information in it. You mentioned some strategies, that I would assume you implemented, and I am sure they worked very well for you. However, I would still like to know some specifics about becoming an investment banker. Believe me, I do appreciate my educational situation, and try to take full advantage of it every day. Thank you for the genuine response.

 
Independent Gestion:
youngone:
The very community you posters are all swearing I am destroying, clearly was never strong in the first place, if someone cannot get advice simply because they are young. I really do want helpful information, and am not trying to be disrespectful or destructive.

If you actually are in 8th grade @ a solid prep school:

1) Do your work, prep schools inflate grade and high school really isn't that hard

2) Get a blowjob or two.... party. You won't be able to have any sort of client-facing career if people think you have a telephone pole up your pooper.

3) Read... widely. Read about economics, classic literature, science, technology, politics and everything you can. It will make you more interesting to talk to and you might (and probably will) adjust your career goals significantly in the next 5-10 years.

4) Don't worry so much about the future that you get lost in delusions of grandeur, it leads to clinical neurosis and it will help you neither achieve your future nor pound quality tail in the present.

5) Go play sports, do debate, paint, whatever. I went to prep school too and the resources you have access too are something you are blessed with and should seize with both hands. WSO is not a productive place for a 14 yo.

This.

 
Serendipity:
1. meet girls 2. get laid
  1. profit???

Serendipity, I do not understand how this is advice, especially considering I asked for advice on how to become an investment banker. Wouldn't these three items be classified as reasons to become an investment banker, as opposed to ways to become one?

 

8th grade so you're like 14? 13? 15? at most why are you not asleep isn't it past your bed time.

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
blackfinancier:
8th grade so you're like 14? 13? 15? at most why are you not asleep isn't it past your bed time.

I take it you ignored my private message, and are continuing to belittle me for being young?

 
JimboUSC:
I'd reach out to alum from your middle school who are currently in investment banking..they are probably more than willing to help out

It saddens me to see that you are right. I posted a question on here, asking for help, and have been subject to hatred and ridicule. The reason I went here first, is because my school unfortunately have a program for talking with alumni that specifically focuses on investment banking. I suppose I will be getting good practice at my networking skills from an early age, though.

 
turtles:
So which "reputable private middle school" do you go to anyway? Eaglebrook? IMS?

Turtles, clearly I am young (if anything, that much has been made clear on this thread), so I feel uncomfortable divulging personal information like that to the public. Please stop trying to find out about me (you'll notice I said I told you everything you needed to know), and focus on answering the question. If you do not have any advice for me to become an investment banker, than please leave me alone.

 
Lord Blankfein:
Investment Banking Recruiting: Got to get em before puberty does.

Lord Blankfein, I am disappointed that even a high-achieving investment banker such as yourself has resorted to insulting me. You initially offered me very wise advice, but I see now what your true intentions were.

 
blastoise:
OP,

Can you please explain to me why your IP adress matches b1astoise, and why I shouldn't ban you?

Sincerely,

Blastoise

hahahaha!
The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
blastoise:
OP,

Can you please explain to me why your IP adress matches b1astoise, and why I shouldn't ban you?

Sincerely,

Blastoise

My man! Well played.
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
blastoise:
OP,

Can you please explain to me why your IP adress matches b1astoise, and why I shouldn't ban you?

Sincerely,

Blastoise

Wow, when even blastoise jumps on you, you are either: 1. a TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL 2. such a huge outlier that people find it hard to believe. If this is the case, then good for you. Read up and stop introducing yourself as an 8th grader - you are dealing with professional adults who are unlikely to believe you. Good luck, but don't forget to be young - this industry isn't THAT hard to get into, and when you're old and gray, the last thing you're going to look back on is how much money you made.
Get busy living
 

Okay I have had enough. To everyone reading this thread, and posting on it: This is my last post on this site. What I thought was a helpful resource has proven to be akin to an immature bully. I no longer care to hear from any of you. To those that think I am a troll, I am sorry you feel that way, and I'm sorry if my posts offended you. I meant them genuinely, and tried to make that clear, but to no avail. To those that took me seriously, I offer a large "thank you," but that is not enough to keep me on this site.

Goodbye Wall Street Oasis, You've disappointed me.

 

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