Course Selection

Career Opportunities & Internships Investment Banking
1

<p>I have just transferred from a non-target as an Economics major (3.9+ GPA) to a target (lower Ivy) as a non-Economics/non-Finance/non-Business/unrelated major. I am just now starting my junior year.</p>

<p>I'm having trouble choosing classes that will help me get a job at a Bulge Bracket firm doing ibanking/s+t/research/etc. I'm not sure what area of finance I would like to go into.</p>

<p>This semester, I will be taking intermediate microeconomics to fulfill a requirement but I have 8 credits free this semester that I could use to take anything. I took a finance course at my old college but it was a half-semester course and did not go into much depth. I have also never taken a financial accounting course. However, I'm also interested in possibly pursuing an Economics PhD which would require me to take linear algebra this semester.</p>

<p>I can take Finance, Financial Accounting and Linear algebra at any point in the next two years of my college career (although I would need to take Linear now if I want to take later Math courses in preparation for a PhD) but the trouble is that I will be applying to banks at the end of this semester. Will I be at a huge loss for summer internships if I do not take either Finance or Financial Accounting right now?</p>

<p>Also, what level of math is considered a competitive amount if one is trying to get into Ibanking or S+T from a Target? It seems that everyone at my target has taken linear algebra, differential equations and other high level math courses.</p>

2

<p>math - ive finished calc 3 and am not even taking a math class this year. i didnt even know diff eqs/linear was even relevant to business. who takes more math classes than they really need, even if they are good at it? i didnt even need to take past calc 2.</p>

3

<p>I have not taken Calc 3. At my college, the sequence is Calc 1 –> Calc 2 –> Linear Algebra –> Multivariable Calculus (Calc 3).</p>

<p>The truth is that linear algebra is completely irrelevant to investment banking but I think it is likely a good signal to employers wrt my quantitative ability since my major is relatively qualitative. </p>

<p>However, the main reason I’m taking it is to keep the door open for a PhD. Will I be at a huge disadvantage for BB internships if I take Linear Algebra instead of Financial Accounting (even if I tell them I’ll take Accounting next semester)?</p>

4

<p>can you not take accouting this semester and Linear algebra the next?</p>

<p>honestly, i raelly dont think that not taking accounting this semester would really jeopardize your chances. they may hurt it but you’re probably not going to lose an opportunity because you haven’t taken accounting. </p>

<p>your choice to make is whether you care more about your PHD or more about your internship</p>