Career advice for a USC engineering sophomore
I am currently a sophomore at the University of Southern California doing engineering. I recently developed an interest in finance and I really want to purse a career in Investment banking. What are my options? I know that USC isn't a target school for most banks, but would me being an engineer make me more attractive for the jobs?
And do you think I would have any chances of landing an internship in NYC maybe in the back office after my sophomore year and then try to move onto the front office?
Transfer over to Marshall would probably be the best idea. There are definitely USC alum in finance
Although I agree that industrial engineering is more relevant to business/consulting in general, it definitely isn't necessary. Learn shit on your own, and try to take BUAD 305 in Marshall - it's an abridged accounting course that will prepare you for banking.
On top of that, your major doesn't matter for investment banking. Learn your shit - including accounting, 3 valuation techniques, general finance topics, etc. PM me if you'd like and I can direct you to some of the best resources at USC. Also get a good GPA.
Lastly, USC can definitely be considered a target in the West Coast. LA and SF banks recruit heavily at USC, especially because USC attracts and develops a more innovative, entrepreneurial student body than its competitors (UCLA, Berkeley). Every bank, except Goldman for some odd reason, recruited at USC through OCR and they also do information sessions, which will take place throughout the beginning of the Fall semester.
hey redroom, im currently a student at SC could you PM me with some advice/ resources I dont have enough bananas to initiate a message.. I'd appreciate it
I think you are wrong. http://www.usctis.com/mentorship-program/mentor-class-2012
I know a bit about USC. PM me if you want specifics.
there's a master's in financial engineering that places well at USC.
Thank you for your input!
I am doing electrical engineering just because I am still trying to figure out what I want to do. I do have a rising interest in finance and also an interest in engineering so I am trying to see what my options are, in case I go with finance in the future.
Thanks Redroom for your advice, I am definitely going to take a few finance classes and figure out what I want to do.
But despite all that, have you seen any USC kids interning at NYC maybe in the back office?
Got a friend in SC who graduated and went through the whole recruiting process. SC has resume drop/OCR for most of the i-banks and they target to put kids in regional offices. Like what everyone has been saying, need to network if you want any shot at NYC.
Definitely heard of kids interning at back office, but unless ur planning to do it in ur sophomore year, I say go for boutique IBs whether its in NYC or LA. Also know someone who interned at a boutique in NYC from SC so its possible. Recommend to always aim for ib intern by junior year over any BO/MO. Hope that helps.
i know people from usc that did engineering and went to top BB/MMs
iv gone through recruiting at USC
every single bugle bracket bank recruits here, including MMs like Jefferies, Piper, Stifel, Houlihan, Montgomery, FTP, RBC and Imperial Capital
im sure im missing some of the MMs too
elite boutiques here include Moelis, Lazard and Guggenheim
when you have interviews for first round they generally will ask you if you want to work in LA, SF or NY and you can discuss from there. i'd recommend just saying you want to work where the guy interviewing you is from to get the SA offer, and if you get a FT offer you ask to lateral
lots of kids got SF jobs and are lateraling to NY as well. so, yea USC is NOT a target for NY, but it is a target for LA/SF
Dude you basically have to pull a 3.5+ GPA to get interviews from IBs (with EE in my school, that's impossible for me..) I was in the same position as you are: my school is top in engineering and accounting but just ok in finance. But we have a lot of alums in credit suisse, citi and GS. USC is a decent school so if you are interested, go ahead and transfer!
Just transferred to USC Marshall. How do you search for alumni in IB areas?
linkedin, and try to join the trojan investing society mentorship program
Join the USC Investment Banking Society -- [email protected]
Thank for the inputs. Any of you are or were part of the societies?
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