I got around 65/70 credits while in high school as a full-time dual-enrollment student, which is great, but I think my recruiting is messed up. When I become a college student this fall, I’m set to graduate in around 3 or 4 semesters. Because of my age (17), I haven’t been able to intern anywhere, and networking has been tough because no one really wants to network with a high schooler. Essentially I enter with the status of a junior but the experience of a freshman, which I am pretty worried about. Will this negatively impact my ability to get a full-time job when I graduate college? I am looking to work on Wall Street. If so, does anyone have advice? Thanks!!
Where will you be attending college?
Not sure yet but got full ride to University of Minnesota. I applied RD for everything so I wont know for another two months.
You could defer for a year and work or do study abroad?
You are imaging problems that do not really exist. Even if you have the credits to be a junior, this does not mean you will graduate in only two years - unless all of your DE credits will be transferable - which they may or may not be - AND they cover all the GE requirements wherever you end up going - which they may or may not. Just because you have a certain number of credits, doesn’t mean you have the RIGHT credits that will allow you graduate in only two years. And even IF you do, that does not mean you MUST graduate in two years. You could use the flexibility to double major, or do a year abroad, or just pursue new topics and interests. Unless you have a financial need to graduate in two years, I absolutely would not recommend it. Graduate in three years, maybe. Graduate in two, absolutely not.
In addition, plenty of high schools students manage to network and find internships. If you have not been able to do that, that’s fine too, once you get to college, however, you will need to start hustling. Fortunately, you will likely have access to a career center that will be able to help you with that - help you put together your resume, work on your interview skills, and give you some leads for companies looking for student interns. Take advantage of that.
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@Catcherinthetoast might have an opinion here. What exactly do you want to do on Wall Street? I’m not sure being a 20 year old college grad will benefit you.
OP could you please specify (I know it is hard at this stage) what you envision yourself doing on Wall Street? Obviously that is a broad term so trying to get a sense of what you are looking to accomplish.
I believe @Catcherinthetoast is directing his question above to you…not me!
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That makes sense Thank you! I like the idea of double majoring in Finance and music/psychology/data analysis or something. Finding high school internships has been tough because they are usually single digit acceptance rate.
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I want to work for a bulge bracket bank in Equity Research and eventually start my own hedge fund.
Unfortunately I don’t believe the scholarship I am getting will let me defer. (It is through a separate organization)
Then why wouldn’t you want to start your career at a hedge fund or money managers research area. Just wondering as you would be an off cycle analyst candidate from a non target school, so a bulge bracket internship into full time offer will likely be very tough. You may want to be more flexible.
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Start as a frosh. Take extra classes towards a masters if you have to.
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I think it is actually harder to break into HF out of undergrad. The route I want to take is more typical. It’s very unlikely I can land a full time hedge fund job out of college because the competition is so intense.
That’s a good idea I didn’t know I could do that. Thanks
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Check the terms of your scholarship. 3 or 4 years at university would be good
I think there are many more equity research opportunities at various types of money managers than there are pathways to such roles at bulge bracket firms for undergraduates with “unconvential timing” from non feeder schools, but I will defer to your opinion.
FYI there are arguably 10 bulge bracket firms, 4,000 hedge funds and thousands more various types of money management firms that have in house research. I assure you not all of those doing research started at BB.
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@collegesearihuuhu whats the rush? Stay in undergrad for three or four years. Get some decent internships under your belt. Get some experience related to what you think you want to do. At this point, it’s my opinion you are thinking that being younger will benefit you. I don’t think that is the case.
You have already stated you have concerns, as you should, about lack of relevant internship or work experience. This is real. Those applying for the jobs you want will have those experiences and that will matter when hiring time comes.
So…stay in undergrad, and pick up a double major…something that will benefit you in the long term.
I suggest you seriously listen to the advice given by adults with actual experience in your field of interest. CC is lucky to have parents sharing their experience and advice for free… parents who have 25+ years on Wall Street, finance, HR, etc. So, respectfully, you may need to adjust what you “think” and be open to their input.
I wish you the best of luck. Please be open minded. You don’t know what you don’t know. And that’s absolutely okay for a teenager.
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That makes sense. Thank you!