Ultimate Investment Banker?

Hello Monkeys,

I have finally made up my mind, and Investment Banking is definitely the way I want to go! So my question is, what can I do to better equip me to be the best in the business; not best things to do to get me in the industry, but those would be helpful too.

A little background info: I just turned 18 last month. i was formerly on the whole lawyer track, but that stuff really isn't for me(Not that I can't do it, but you know). I just finished my freshman year and am proceeding into sophomore after the summer. I have no problem with staying up late and doing stuff. Currently, I have taken mostly Liberal Arts classes, but am planning to change my major to Economics and Applied Mathematics, but my school doesn't offer Econ as a major, so I'll take mostly Mathematics classes till I trasnfer(I go to a Community College). I graduated high school at 15, but didn't go straight into college because I felt I wasn't ready for College life.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. So please, help a young up-and-comer out!!!

 

Obviously get into the best school that you can as breaking into IB is exponentially easier coming form a target or semi-target school. Once at a quality school, focus on keeping your GPA as high as possible 3.5+ and get involved in extra-curricular activities that will make you well rounded come recruiting time (i.e. investment club, community involvement, getting drunk/laid, etc.). Definitely get a subscription to the WSJ or another financial publication.

Why did you graduate at 15? Why did you go to community college?

 

@junkbondswap Thanks a lot for the info; greatly appreciated. Any recommendations as to what courses to take that will make me somewhat competent in the field as soon as I step in? I was thinking I take plenty Math intensive classes and supplement them with Econ and French(Maybe Japanese)

Haha, a lot of people get shocked when they hear this. I graduated in Nigeria, and I skipped A LOT of grades. The next youngest after me was 19. I go to a CC because when I moved to the US, college application season was over and you know CC's, You can get in pretty much anytime. So my plan is to do two years at CC and keep my grades up and then transfer to an Ivy or Target.

 
Best Response
obsdigino:
@junkbondswap Thanks a lot for the info; greatly appreciated. Any recommendations as to what courses to take that will make me somewhat competent in the field as soon as I step in? I was thinking I take plenty Math intensive classes and supplement them with Econ and French(Maybe Japanese)

Haha, a lot of people get shocked when they hear this. I graduated in Nigeria, and I skipped A LOT of grades. The next youngest after me was 19. I go to a CC because when I moved to the US, college application season was over and you know CC's, You can get in pretty much anytime. So my plan is to do two years at CC and keep my grades up and then transfer to an Ivy or Target.

O se - o. From Lagos?

15 is not really skipping grades graduating from Nigeria. Did you complete O-levels/Youth corps before you moved? Almost everyone I know from back home graduated before 17 and O-levels before 18 so I doubt your whole "19" thing. Good luck @ transferring to a target. What were you SS grades/ and US community college grades? It's possible to transfer to a target from a CC but you better be a top student.

Yoo dara - o my brother,

‎"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:
obsdigino:
@junkbondswap Thanks a lot for the info; greatly appreciated. Any recommendations as to what courses to take that will make me somewhat competent in the field as soon as I step in? I was thinking I take plenty Math intensive classes and supplement them with Econ and French(Maybe Japanese)

Haha, a lot of people get shocked when they hear this. I graduated in Nigeria, and I skipped A LOT of grades. The next youngest after me was 19. I go to a CC because when I moved to the US, college application season was over and you know CC's, You can get in pretty much anytime. So my plan is to do two years at CC and keep my grades up and then transfer to an Ivy or Target.

O se - o. From Lagos?

15 is not really skipping grades graduating from Nigeria. Did you complete O-levels/Youth corps before you moved? Almost everyone I know from back home graduated before 17 and O-levels before 18 so I doubt your whole "19" thing. Good luck @ transferring to a target. What were you SS grades/ and US community college grades? It's possible to transfer to a target from a CC but you better be a top student.

Yoo dara - o my brother,

Thanks for your comment. Yeah I'm from Lagos! You lived in Nigeria also? No I didn't do Youth Corps; I think that's for University graduates. If you follow the Nigerian curriculumn, the normal age to graduate is 18/19. Maybe they went to British schools or something; You may be right though, you never know.

I had a 3.9 graduating from high school, and I currently have a 4.0 in a blend of Mathematically intensive classes and Liberal arts classes.

Thanks for your input; greatly appreciated

 

Good GPA (3.7+) and 1 extracurricular are needed, but what gets you the job in the end is a solid track of internships and networking.

-->Networking with upperclassmen, alums, previous internship coworkers, is what will get you selected for interviews. -->Internship experience and to a lesser extent, extra-curricular activities, is what you will discuss in interviews and will land you the job.

 

Consequatur sed adipisci in enim est non. Corrupti est soluta nobis amet vitae temporibus. Qui qui modi vero illum fugit. Et dignissimos aliquid tenetur omnis explicabo incidunt voluptas. Tempora et ipsam tempore consequatur. Recusandae blanditiis amet similique soluta.

Fugiat minima repudiandae voluptas mollitia. Natus atque rerum ut ea aut soluta labore. Possimus dicta blanditiis culpa iusto laboriosam voluptas.

Aperiam consequuntur rerum nemo animi. Amet necessitatibus exercitationem nihil nemo porro. Officia aut dolorem assumenda dolor omnis quis qui. Necessitatibus qui veniam non sed necessitatibus quos dolor. Qui qui et magni unde quisquam sequi. Consectetur voluptatem natus explicabo quia molestiae veniam.

Provident reprehenderit soluta dolore. Fugit corporis recusandae quas perspiciatis possimus reiciendis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

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

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 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

March 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

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”