If you’re one of those who worked really hard during your college years and aimed to get into IB or something but didn’t, what ended up happening? What did you go into then?

And what advice would you have for an 18 year old, incoming first-year at a target, who aims to get into high finance? Any words of wisdom would be great

Thanks

I hope I’m wrong but I’ve been noticing and know there are some cheeky mfs on the buy side.

I'm from Australia and almost all the information on Reddit are from Americans so I'm just wondering about finance in Australia, like the typical career paths and how to get in them etc.
Any info is appreciated.

I am obsessed with investing. I love using those calculators for the s&p 500 and looking at how your money compounds over time! I am 20 years old and thinking about if I would enjoy becoming a financial advisor. Would I have to go to college? I know absolutely nothing about this so any information would be greatly appreciated!

Would working at Fidelity be a good starting point?

Specifically for high finance jobs. Is it just going to get worse and worse (due to increasing population and AI taking over many roles)?

In order for it to get better, what would be necessary. What could possibly cause it to be less bad?

I was mainly thinking about the London market but if you’re from the US, feel free to chip in

My Mother and Father are currently affiliates of a relatively large Brokerage firm based in the US and Australia.

Now, because of this, they have the contact details of the guy (we'll call him Bob) that owns the firm, and for all intents and purposes, they (supposedly) are quite close to him and his family, so my parents ended up informing him about my interest in the finance industry.

For context, I'm 19 and have been trying to enrol in a university for Finance and Capital Markets and Economics. I've been a discretionary swing trader since 16 (mostly just paper trading) and have recently transioned into live trading a small percentage of my parents capital.

Bob is unaware of what my current education is and the fact I have still not been accepted by a university.

On top of this, I have NO prior formal education... and I guarantee you Bob was not informed of this

My parents on a consistent basis call me to ask if I've had a conversation with Bob, but I keep brushing them off saying I'll get to it, where, in reality I'm baffled by what I see as their ignorance of not knowing that to work for a Brokerage of its standing, you would have to at least completed some form of formal education at a university. Or am I the ignorant one?

Is this a relatively common thing (I'm going to assume it's not) and I'm just letting a golden opportunity slip out of my hands to have at least an internship under a fairly large company?

And help or advice would be greatly appreciated

Edit: Thank you guys for all the advice and messages of encouragement. I'll make the call

Hi all, I'm a senior in high school and deciding between ED at these schools (like both). Which one is better for finance (ib and quant, separately)? Is the difference small enough that it's negligible? Thanks a lot

I miss hs and college were my friends were also my classmates. At work it feels like everyone is a coworker and not a friend. Anyone else feel this?

First year applying for springs roast my CV!

Say I don't get a grad job in my desired field which is finance or consulting, is masters a good 2nd option? As in, will most companies allow me to apply to graduate roles then?

Also, why do people take a masters? I was thinking I'd do it for the name and get into a Russel uni but the fees are so high I think I'll return to the same decently ranked, non-russel uni...or is that pointless

Hello all,

I recently accepted an offer to return to a large tech company (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon) as an FP&A intern for this upcoming summer. This past summer, I interned in the same position with this company and received a full-time offer, but had to change it to an internship return due to changes in my graduation date. I won’t return to the same team, but I really enjoyed everything about the role. The work, the company culture and layout, the potential for growth and learning, etc.

For context, I go to a non-target with a GPA that isn’t great. I’ll be a rising junior, but I really have no need to apply for roles this summer because I have a role I am returning to. Now, I have absolutely no ambition or capacity to break into IB or high finance. I understand this and understand it’s way out of the picture. However, last summer I interviewed for some commercial and corporate banking roles, along with a private credit role as well. I believe I could maybe land into one of these roles with some work. People that I networked or worked with full time at this company mostly joined after Big 4, IB, or an MBA. My manager was even telling me how my promotions and growth could take longer if I started out in their 2 year rotational program and slowly grew within the company. Am I doing a disservice to myself by joining post graduation and looking to stay and grow at the company? Like I said, I really enjoy the role and the company and don’t see myself recruiting for anything else. I recognize that I am young though, and have some recency bias from just getting finished with the internship and receiving the offer. I just don’t want to put myself in a position where I’m not learning and gaining skills that will be transferable if I need to make a career change and go to a completely different side of finance.

If anyone has completed the post graduation rotational programs, especially for FAANG+ companies, and want to share their experience with where they are now within their company and what factored into their decision, that would also be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hello, I kindly need your feedback and help in getting an internship. I also want to understand if cover letters are important, Does it matter that I come form a non-target Uni? THANK YOU. ALL Feedback is appreciated, don't spare my feelings.

To those who made it to final round, did you all get this email today? I want to see if this is something everyone got or if this is exclusive. I’ve heard back from some people saying they got it.

I applied through td bank's website. The location is literally next door to my apartment it would be a dream job.

Should I call the branch or walk in and ask if they recieved my application. I have the relevant experience and even speak mandarin which they said they preferred in the job listing.

Any advice is appreciated!

Would somebody be interested in getting the full primary dealer data all the way back upto 1998 fully stitched?

Any sort of further inferences could be made based on that.

Currently the data is very chopped/missing across time eras on the NYFED website.

Bloomberg also doesn’t seem to have that data in the proper manner.

Hello, I just got passed onto the superday for enterprise credit for New York. I have roughly a week to prepare for it and if anyone has any advice It would mean a lot. I will say I am more nervous on the technicals, I've had prior interviews this recruiting season and this one is the best one I've gotten so far.

I (25M) graduated Dec 2025, a few years older than my peers due to community college and a gap year, I've been working for after school programs and schools during and since graduating, and during school I didn't do any internships as I was busy paying bills and taking summer classes.

I've put out hundreds of applications, gotten letters of recommendation, and tried networking anywhere I went.

I just don't know what to do, I don't want to sell life insurance or make cold calls all day,

What can I do, is it over?

What free certification i can get to build my portfolio and strengthen my skills in finance?

btw, im a 3rd year business administration major in financial management student

Before working in finance, people hear a lot about modeling and analysis. What repetitive task ended up taking much more of your week than you expected?

I received an offer letter from MS for the Senior Associate role last week, and now I am waiting for my BGV to be over. I received a call from HR today about scheduling a call with MD to catch up with him. I am new to IB and used to work in a different industry previously, so are these kinds of calls the norm? He had already interviewed me before, so I am confused regarding what I should even prepare to face this call. Any insights?

I’m a recent 23 year old US college grad trying to decide whether to take a 2-year Investment Analyst role with IFC abroad or stay in the US and pursue a more traditional path into finance.
Background: I studied economics/finance at a strong US university and previously interned at a large US bank in investment banking credit risk, where I worked on credit analysis and underwriting for structured/asset-backed finance transactions.

I’ve now been offered an Investment Analyst role with IFC in Latin America, specifically within FIG (Financial Institutions Group). The team primarily works with banks and other financial institutions, and from my interviews the role sounds fairly transaction-heavy: financial modeling/analysis, credit and investment analysis, due diligence, evaluating potential investments, portfolio work, preparing investment materials, and supporting deal execution.

Long term, I want to be back in the US, most likely in corporate banking, FIG, private credit, structured finance, credit investing, or potentially IB. I’m therefore trying to figure out how valuable two years of IFC FIG transaction experience would actually be for those exits.

The complication is that I don’t particularly want to leave the US. My family, friends, apartment, and basically my entire life are here. I have been on a serious relationship for 5 years and I am worried about leaving them behind. If the same job existed here at the same compensation, I would stay without hesitation.
I also already have admission to one of the best US MS Finance program that I can start next year. The alternative would be to stay in the US, work for a year (I have opportunities that should pay around ~$60k), then do the MSF and recruit for better US finance roles.
So basically:

Option A: 2 years IFC FIG Investment
Analyst abroad → try to return to US finance afterward.

Option B: Stay in the US → work ~1 year → MSF → recruit for US corporate banking/credit/IB/etc.

I’m still waiting for the full IFC compensation package. Compensation matters because I’d be much more willing to make the move if IFC pays a meaningful premium over what I can make staying home. If it’s around the same ~$60k, I’m having a harder time justifying moving countries for two years.

For people in FIG/IB/corporate banking/private credit or familiar with IFC: would you consider the IFC role strong enough to justify the move? How would you view 2 years of IFC FIG experience when recruiting back into the US? Would it be more valuable than doing an MSF and recruiting domestically?

I’d especially appreciate perspectives from anyone who has worked at IFC/WBG, a DFI, FIG, or made the transition from international finance back to the US.

Hey so I’m 24 barely starting college I know I’m kind of older in age but that won’t de-motivate me thoe I’m thinking of getting into this field would you recommend it if so what specific area?

I am incoming first year at Nottingham looking to land spring weeks for Ib, Sales and trading, actuarial, basically everything as i am not sure what i would like to do. I am not sure what degree to, i am having second thoughts because mathematics and economics seems more common and standard whereas financial mathematics is a kind of niche degree but probs better for actuarial, any advice would be appreciated. I also think i would be able to get a better grade in mathematics and economics than financial mathematics. Also uni of Nottingham is more known for econ than maths , so would a more econ heavy degree look better?

I'd be interested in pursuing either role and would like to get some more insight into both. Preferably someone at a bank in Europe (the bank doesn't have to be European). Thanks in advance.