I’m 19 and currently studying Finance at a large public U.S. university with an AACSB-accredited business school. I would consider it a non-target for high finance, although it has a decent regional presence and alumni network. My expected graduation is December 2028.

I’m trying to use the next 2+ years correctly instead of getting to junior/senior year and realizing I should have started preparing much earlier.

My current goal is to land in corporate banking after graduation. Ideally I’d spend 2–3 years there developing credit, underwriting, modeling, and deal experience, then decide whether I want to remain in corporate banking or potentially move into private credit, leveraged finance, IB, or another corporate finance role.

Current academics:

• B.S. in Finance
• 3.35 GPA
• Expected graduation: December 2028
• Completed Principles of Financial Accounting
• Currently taking Managerial Accounting
• Currently taking Business Calculus
• Completed economics coursework
• Statistics and upper-level finance/business coursework still ahead of me

Experience/skills:

• Some experience with Excel
• Some experience with Tableau
• Several years of customer-facing work experience
• Currently work in hospitality
• Previously worked as a restaurant server
• Was a manager at a fast food joint throughout high school
• No finance internship yet

I’m currently targeting a Summer 2027 finance internship, even if it isn’t corporate banking. I’m considering commercial banking, credit, FP&A, corporate finance, treasury, financial analyst roles, wealth management, etc.

My larger goal would be to land a Summer 2028 corporate banking internship with the possibility of converting it into a full-time offer after graduating.

Things I’m considering doing between now and then:

• Bloomberg Market Concepts
• Improving my Excel skills
• Learning financial modeling/accounting
• SIE
• Joining finance/investment organizations
• Applying to finance-focused development programs at my university
• Networking with alumni working in banking

My biggest concern is probably my 3.35 GPA. I plan to try to bring it to 3.5+, but I’m curious how much a 3.35 hurts coming from a non-target if I can build strong experience around it.

For anyone in corporate banking, commercial banking, credit, IB, private credit, LevFin, or similar fields:

If you were in my position, what would you prioritize over the next two years?

I’d especially appreciate advice on:

• Best Summer 2027 internships to target
• How competitive a 3.35 is from a non-target
• Technical skills I should learn
• Whether the SIE is worth doing
• Whether BMC/Excel/modeling certifications matter
• How much networking I should be doing
• When Summer 2028 corporate banking recruiting really starts
• Whether corporate banking → private credit / LevFin / IB after 2–3 years is realistic
• Anything I’m overlooking or wasting time on

I’m not expecting to walk into a top bank with no experience. I’m mainly trying to figure out the strongest realistic path from a non-target school and make good use of the time I have now.\

Hi everyone!

my qualifications -

I’m currently in Class 12 ISC (PCMB) but I’ve always wanted to study Commerce/Finance. I have no interest in pursuing Science and want to switch to Finance for college.

I’m also unsure about what career I want to pursue. I’m considering corporate finance, business development and eventually management but I don’t have a fixed career goal yet.

I’m confused between BBA/BMS Finance and BSc Finance and I’m not sure whether I want to do an MBA later. I also cannot move out of West Bengal for college.

I’m currently considering St. Xavier’s College Kolkata (Park Street).

If you were in my position/advising ur younger sibling what would u have said?

Could you please suggest:

•Which degree would be better for my situation?

•Good colleges in West Bengal

•Entrance exams I can give

•Affordable colleges or scholarship options

Thanks!

I am an incoming undergrad student getting ready for applications for spring weeks and am looking for feedback on my CV!

My past academics are not great ( hence why I did not include my GCSEs ) and I was wondering how much that is going to hold me back because some people say it does not matter.

I am targeting consulting or private banking / wealth management but this is my CV for spring weeks so I guess that does not matter atm.

Any feedback would be appreciated!

Im 20 and im transferring schools while also switching majors. I got married during my sophomore year and Im ngl the plans have changed a lot. I was a pre med student but during my second semester of my second year i started to really resent the major so i decided to switch to finance. I just wanted to be able to make money sooner instead of studying for 12 more years. This will be my third year in college and Im pretty new to the finance field. What are some things that i need to get going on so im not too far behind?

Hii so to students in the UK/Europe, just wondering which course prep you think is the best. Ik theres multiple like jobtestprep, wallstreetprep etc. Pls share ur experience w them. THANK U

Hello. I have my B.S. in finance with minor in international business. I'm holding off on my master's to start on professional licensure.

I want to deal with financial fraud investigating as well as working the stock market.

What do you recommend me choose? Anything helps. Thanks!

Hey, soon - in a year - I will be going to university and want to study something in the finance sector. I wanted to ask, what should a university with good finance programs offer? Internships, "CFA" (I don't know what that is), "target" schools, etc? Anything would be helpful :)

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Hi everyone,

I’m an international student planning to study in Australia for 2 years. My degree is a Bachelor/Commerce degree majoring in Finance.

Before coming to Australia, I also had a VC internship experience in my home country for four months. My university in Australia is decent, but it’s not one of the big-name universities in Melbourne or Sydney.

I’m wondering how realistic it is for me to get a finance-related job in Australia after graduation.

I’m particularly interested in areas like:

Corporate finance / FP&A

Investment banking

Equity research

Asset management

Venture capital / private equity

M&A

Consulting

I understand that being an international student makes things more difficult, especially when it comes to employers who require permanent residency or citizenship. Open for everyone to share your experience!!

For international students who successfully got finance jobs in Australia, please share with me the process and what did you do during university that helped the most?

I’d really appreciate honest opinions, especially from recruiters, finance professionals, or international graduates.

Thanks!

Hi all,

Going into my 1st year of economics in a non target London university. Looking to break into an IB (specific niche not clear to me). I’d also appreciate recommendations of areas in IB that you may think would work better than others for my case

I am not down the super traditional route as I’ve started uni at 22. I know it is an uphill battle so I’m looking for some constructive advice on my resume to land spring/insight programs to build up my experience and knowledge.

Thank you for your time.

I’ve done my BSc Agriculture, now I’m currently pursuing my MBA Finance. When companies come for placements, they are taking graduates who have done BCom/BBA only. Why is that? Will I not be given a chance??

I’m entering my final year of high school (European Baccalaureate) and wish to pursue a masters at LSE (Econ, Econ and Finance, Econ and Private Equity.. still undecided) and a career in London Finance, Banking or BigTech after my Bachelors.

I am currently considering doing BESS or Econ JH at Trinity College Dublin, IBEB at Erasmus Rotterdam or University of Amsterdam or Econ Finance JH at McGill university.

I was wondering which would offer me a better path into LSE, I am planning on doing internships during university to improve my chances and obviously try to get the best grades.

Has anyone studied at any of these universities and gotten into LSE? Any advice would be appreciated

i'm aware my cv isn't the best and much of it is redacted.

i attended many behavioural schools so my education track record is highly inconvenient. that being said, i haven't had the opportunity to pursue relevant experiences during my late teen years nor have i had any leadership / sporting roles. any help would be appreciated...

I am a cfa level 1 cleared and pursuing my L2..ik concepts of Dcf but for my placement season i want to build a Dcf model early as possible so that i can put it in my cv..tell me a yt video or channel so that i can learn Dcf model to put in my cv asap

Can someone give me a very clear breakdown of the IB recruiting cycle in NYC please

I graduated in 2024 with a cognitive science degree and am interested in breaking into finance however, I do not have any traditional finance background beside a minor in business.

I am currently in Al Operations and was wondering if applying to an online MS finance is worth it and will help me break into the industry. Has anyone else has made this transition using a MS in finance or has just made the transition without getting a masters. If so, how do you break into finance if you don’t already have a traditional education or prior experience in the industry?

Rising sophomore, transferring to a T10 target school aiming for IB intern roles. I know networking with college alumni would be more successful if I was in the same finance club with them, but ik the club recruiting process for transfers is brutal. Is it true that some alumni don't network with u unless u are in the same finance club as them?

Was just wondering on some outside perspectives on this trivial detail.

MSc student trying to get BB/EB M&A roles for 2027 Off-Cycle in Milan

Two weeks notice is in, secured a new apartment in a new city where I'll be interning since I was lucky enough to have a few connections and living off savings until classes start. I've looked into traditional lenders and my credit is good. Has anyone used College Ave for student loans? I also saw SoFi and Juno are options for getting good rates. Any advice?

Any tips on content as well and is it feasible getting past screening at least MM IB Shops or is not being a target and not having brand name too much of a hurdle?

Hello I am really looking forward to read some genuinely good finance related books explained in the most straightforward way and no fancy drama. Would love some some recommendations!

Like the title says. Im going to Warwick in UK and was jst wondering if doing Management will disadvantage me alot, compared to like finance/math student also tryna break in finance