What should I study at uni?

Background: I’m a year 12 student (11th grade) living in the UK. I have applied for both UK and US universities (I’m an American citizen).
I’m certain that I’m going to follow a career in finance but am uncertain on what I should major in to give me the best chances of joining a HF right out of uni (I know this is hard) or a few years out of uni.

Question: My current plans are to study engineering but can’t seem to get rid of the thought that economics or finance would be better. Does it really matter what I study as long as it’s at a good university?

 
Most Helpful

why do you wanna go into a HF? Why do you like public markets from a buy-side perspective? Are you willing to work 12h a day for at least 60h a week (if you're efficient that is, and during earnings szn you working 15h)? Are you willing to cope with a very high pressure, high stakes job? Are you willing to spend the majority of your free time research and doing analytics? And above all - do you have strong emotional intelligence?

Honestly, you gotta ask yourself all these questions because first off - no job is glamorous. People who succeed in their roles are efficient and most of the time put in far more work in terms of time than everybody else simply because it isn't work for them rather than pleasure. It is a highly competitive field too. But purely with investing you will need the emotional intelligence to perform (which is something that somehow every academic course seems to forget or not touch on)

just study whatever you like most/is your passion that also coincides with a good career financially

 

Possimus repellendus dolores delectus id. Fugiat qui et debitis consequatur. Id excepturi dolor nihil qui quos aut. Labore sunt accusamus autem voluptates quis sit.

Eligendi quasi alias cupiditate velit expedita animi nesciunt. Animi vel soluta laboriosam deleniti. Quaerat mollitia ex consectetur et commodi dicta eos.

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 (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
numi's picture
numi
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...”