<p>Could you explain the new curriculum at Stern a bit more? Sorry, I didn’t really understand what that meant…</p>
<p>I’m a freshman at Stern currently, I’ll start my second semester in a little less than a week. What have most people, you know of, done during their freshman summer? What firms or programs and in which areas of finance would you suggest looking at? I live in NY throughout the year, and in fact commute to Stern, so housing isn’t an issue during the summer. Thanks!</p>
<p>hey,</p>
<p>You mentioned Stern students are pretty much isolated and only having a sense of belonging towards Stern. Is there any interaction between stern students and students with other majors? How is the social life in Stern and nyu</p>
<p>hey,</p>
<p>You mentioned Stern students are pretty much isolated and only having a sense of belonging towards Stern. Is there any interaction between stern students and students with other majors? How is the social life in Stern and nyu?</p>
<p>thank you.</p>
<p>Hi there ( this is for hellodocks)</p>
<p>I am an ED-II applicant at Stern class of 2015.
I have been following your posts regularly. You have some great piece of information as well as advice for incoming freshman and their parents.After reading all that you have to share I must say that if half or even some of the crowd is like you then I believe I am making the right decisions regarding applying to NYU and it will be blessing if I make it too.
So I am going to a little selfish and curious and ask you what do you think my chances are.
ED-II Stern</p>
<p>SAT Subject Scores
Math 2- 780
Eng Lit - 750
Bio M - 730</p>
<p>IB Diploma score of 36 on 42 in Grade 11 Subject- Eng HL,Business St HL, Math HL, Psycho HL,Bio SL, Spanish Abinitio</p>
<p>CBSE Class 10- 91%</p>
<p>CBSE Class 9- 84%</p>
<p>Have been involved in a host of activities in various capacities President,Chair, Media Head, Delegate, Class Rep</p>
<p>MUNer for last 5 years national and International (more recent Harvard MUN-last week of jan’11)
1 week volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
Summer Intern for 1 month at Leo Burnett,an Ad firm
President of RRC AIDS club
Media Head for school magazine
1 month with children school of speech and hearing impaired ,organized a cultural program with them
as part IB Diploma written 4000 word essay on Business related topic
another 1500 word essay Internal Assessment was again on Business related topic</p>
<p>am keen to combine my Business interest with International affairs</p>
<p>Am eagerly looking forward to ED-II decision from Stern</p>
<p>@sgang
That’s an incredibly specific question, and most people in the industry will outright laugh at kids who have a “GS/MS or bust” attitude before they’ve even had their junior internship. There is no concrete figure. I do, however, <em>personally</em> know two people from Stern who placed into TMT, one’s a senior this year and summered there after sophomore and junior year, and the other is a 1st year associate so either class of '07 or '08. I interviewed there as well, made it all the way through the superday yet ended up committing to MS, but I’ve stayed in touch with all my contacts there, who knows what the future will bring.</p>
<p>@shuffle
Don’t make incorrect statements like that. That’s simply ignorant. Goldman, while the most prestigious name on the Street, is probably the single firm most likely to give a lower-target or non-target kid a chance. They look for smart, driven people and that’s it. It’s an easy and safe bet to ‘risk’ an offer on the impeccable candidate from Harvard with a 3.8 and an internship at his uncle’s friends hedge two summers in a row, but if some kid from East Illinois networks his ass off and breaks into the interview process, he’s almost in a way got a leg up on the Ivy boys because he has a hunger like nobody else does.</p>
<p>That’s a great part of the reason I was able to do so well just as a sophomore. Every single person who interviewed me either in first-rounds or during the superdays was shocked to find someone who was willing to prepare, putting in the time to both network and research the industry and end up demonstrating the interest and dedication to have a strong enough candidacy to outbid the juniors.</p>
<p>@sgang
Again, don’t be so cliche. Exit opportunities from any BB firm are excellent, some moreso than others, but still excellent. GS/MS tends to place best, but the interesting thing to note is that GS has only one of the actual top 5 banking groups on the street. TMT is arguably #1 in terms of compensation and exit opps, followed by Morgan’s M&A (a product group that GS doesn’t offer, research this if you don’t know the difference between a product group and an industry group). The rest are fairly subjective and change year to year, but Morgan’s Media & Com group (their version of TMT since they split Tech off of Media & Com) is usually up there as well.</p>
<p>Long story short, if PE is your long-term goal, you don’t necessarily want to end up in a megafund (Blackrock, Bain Capital, TPG, etc.). They are fairly sweatshoppish and many people only use them as a stepping-stone to top-5 b-schools, HSWC. MM (middle-market) PE shops tend to offer junior staff more leadership, better experience, more responsibility, and a better work-life balance, albeit with less of a brand name for your resume and more limited/less notable dealflow. However, if you plan to stay in PE forever, MM is generally a less stressful path to pursue and you’re still in high finance. Tons of people chase megafund slots so they can follow THE TRACK, 2-2-2-2 where you proceed IBD > PE > b-school > HF and conquer the world.</p>
<p>@Virg
Basically, it’s an imitation of a trend that’s been growing in popularity over the past decade in top-tier business schools. It’s always been the way at the graduate level, but more and more undergrad places are adapting. All MBA programs and selective undergrad schools offer all candidates the same degree, except with different options for ‘concentrations.’ The concentrations typically require a slightly lesser credit amount than a traditional ‘major’ does, meaning you can graduate with three concentrations instead of being restricted to a double-major. Along with this, you have the flexibility to declare only one or two and pursue other academic interests you have; essentially, it doesn’t force you to study one thing and one thing only like business programs typically did.</p>
<p>@nytimes
Nothing. Enjoy it. 80%+ of people in finance will probably tell you this, even if you go to tryhard websites like WSO or M&I. Sophomore is even pushing it. Junior year is mandatory, so people who do get something as a sophomore will be better positioned, but 95% of any positions you can get as a froshie will be next to useless on your resume. Look. You’re in Stern. That’s enough murder as it is. You will spend the next 3 years of your life juggling murderous school, the stress of life in Manhattan, and pressure for that top-notch offer. And it doesn’t get better after that; you get 0 vacation days a year, work holidays, have no opportunity to travel, get your wrist chained to a Blackberry, and essentially owe your life to your MD/PM for the first 10 years. After that it’s the same except you get a few people to boss around and the chance for a few days to call your own.</p>
<p>That being said, I think your criteria should be this:
a) paid
b) finance-related</p>
<p>Pursue PWM (private wealth management), it’s what 90% of freshmen getting finance internships wind up with, it’s your best shot. So many kids get it because it’s without exception the easiest division of a BB firm to break into. You’ll get ***** work and limited exposure, but if you can get a brand name as a freshman you will be set for every following year.</p>
<p>@relish
I don’t mean to paint such a severe picture, so if I did, apologies. That isn’t necessarily true. A ton of kids (Asians especially) only know people in Stern or their cultural clubs, so by default that’s who they spend time with. More don’t have or find the time to befriend a lot of people, so they just throw themselves at school/work. There are many kids who have friends all across the school. Typically it’s people you met freshman year at parties or who lived with/near you and you made those initial bonds as you all adapted to college in the city.</p>
<p>What I meant was that there’s a fairly pervasive attitude among Sternies that earns us a bad name, where we’ll make fun of kids in other schools, say “I don’t go to NYU, I go to Stern,” and do a bunch of other divisive **** that makes people think we’re all arrogant because a few do it. Basically, there’s some animosity because Stern and Tisch are the only top-5 programs here. The others tend to be far easier to get into, less demanding academically, and their graduates fare more poorly compared to Stern/Tisch. And since Stern and Tisch are such polar opposites in nature, there’s tension there too. Most of the time it’s all in good fun, but some kids really, passionately resent Stern, and some Sternies are the same in return. Nothing you wouldn’t find at any other school, but here it’s centered around which school you’re in instead of which frat/dorm/club you’re in.</p>
<p>In terms of social life, it’s a bit different than most schools. People go out instead of partying in. Some buildings have strict RAs, and the walls are thin, so you typically can’t get away with much for long, so people will keep it relatively quiet or else short. There are normally smaller parties in the buildings or else a huge pre-game before hitting the clubs.</p>
<p>In terms of getting to know people, it’s what you make of it. If you’re nice, friendly, outgoing, and genuine, people will gravitate to you quickly. There are too many drama queens, shallow or insecure little children, and complete party whores around, so if you’re an exception to that, you’ll have meaningful friends. Meet people early, and you’ll always have something to do.</p>
<p>Hellodocks:</p>
<p>Is your spot at MS an internship or a job?
And is it paid or unpaid? If it is paid, would you consider it a solid salary? </p>
<p>Do you work at the Mid-Town or Down-Town MS?</p>
<p>It’s a job. Summer analysts work full-time: you go through a (condensed) orientation just like each new class of full-time analysts, work full-time and in direct coordination with the FT analysts, associates, and upper staff (VP/MDs) on the exact same projects. You get paid the same as well, you get the same base salary as the FT analysts for the 10 weeks you’re there, only difference being you don’t get a year-end bonus like FT staff do since you’re not there the whole year.</p>
<p>My situation is a bit unique in that since I broke in as a sophomore, I have a two-year offer, meaning I get two summers (after sophomore year and after junior year) before I have to commit for FT. I’m in midtown. Downtown isn’t as much front-office I believe.</p>
<p>is that a Front Office role or a Back office role?</p>
<p>Investment banking? S&T? Asset management? Wealth management? or Ops?</p>
<p>Front office. S&T this summer, IBD next.</p>
<p>AM and WM are quite different, and Ops is completely back-office.</p>
<p>Hey Hellodocks, </p>
<p>I keep reading how Stern is murderous, very demanding, and the career path after that is also. You mentioned 0 vacation days, etc, basically it does not get any better after graduating, just straight hard work… </p>
<p>I’m a student who is considering “finance/wall st. business realm” as my potential goal so the obvious question:</p>
<p>Why is this career path/college education worth killing yourself over? What is the main drive and motivation that is pushing you and other Sternies to the limit?</p>
<p>Is it to get that job? the money? the glamorous lifestyle (side question: is it? or is that just a fantasy/myth)…I’d really like to know, because it seems held very high in esteem, just wondering if it is worth it, and ultimately, Why.</p>
<p>I can’t bear to read this thread from page 8-ish onwards… I got into Stern ED this year, and now after reading all this, I feel like I have bitten off more than I can chew. Hot damn, I need to pull up my socks!</p>
<p>docks, bit of a trivial question for you. i’m a spring transfer to cas this semester, just registered for classes, and was wondering which buildings the following abbreviations stand for: 48 CS, MEYR, TISC, GODD, KIMM, BOBS. would TISC be tisch hall on 4th street? and i think i know where goddard is but isn’t it just a residence hall? i’m assuming KIMM and BOBS refer to the kimmel center and bobst library, respectively. no clue about 48CS and MEYR…</p>
<p>i feel like a lost freshman all over again :(</p>
<p>also, for the first week of school, do i attend recitations for lectures that haven’t met yet?</p>
<p>hey hellodocks…</p>
<p>I am senior who applied to Stern</p>
<p>taking last SAT tomorrow…</p>
<p>I personally think everything else is fine except SAT…</p>
<p>Does Stern care a lot about SAT score</p>
<p>than other schools?</p>
<p>P.S. Do I have any chance with 1950 for Stern or absolutely no chance?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>@jd
For most people, it’s a means to an end. Whether that end is money (too much money, if you believe some people), prestige (working in the most elite industry possible), or acquiring a skill-set for something you want to do later, high finance is just one of the most competitive, desirable professions in the world. Has been for a long time, and despite the momentary furor, probably will be for a long time to come. Honestly, the competition to even get an interview is so intense you wouldn’t believe it.</p>
<p>It isn’t just Sternies. Besides us, there’s the HYP kids who probably make up the bulk of the hires (very few Yalies though), then Wharton, then Stern, then the lower Ivies, then Ross/Haas/McIntire. Those are the target schools. The motivation for the students? Success. Prestige. Money. Power. Fame. Or a combination of any number of those. It’s different for each person, and the responses you’ll get from different kids pursuing the same thing will vary widely. Again, it’s just a means to an end.</p>
<p>@Audrey
Don’t stress too much. There’s nothing you should be worrying about as a freshman except maintaining good grades, because the schoolwork won’t ever be easier. The only thing challenging about freshman year is adapting to life in the city, to the college atmosphere, and to the freedom of adulthood. The classwork ought to be your priority.</p>
<p>@whodat
48CS is 48 Cooper Square, it’s essentially on or just north of Astor Place.
[48</a> Cooper Square, New York, 10003 - Google Maps](<a href=“Google Maps”>Google Maps)</p>
<p>Meyer Hall is on the corner of Washington Pl and Broadway.
[4</a> Washington Place, New York, NY - Google Maps](<a href=“http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=4+Washington+Place,+New+York,+NY&aq=1&sll=40.729568,-73.993542&sspn=0.004984,0.010386&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=4+Washington+Pl,+New+York,+10003&ll=40.728901,-73.994036&spn=0.010374,0.020771&z=16]4”>http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=4+Washington+Place,+New+York,+NY&aq=1&sll=40.729568,-73.993542&sspn=0.004984,0.010386&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=4+Washington+Pl,+New+York,+10003&ll=40.728901,-73.994036&spn=0.010374,0.020771&z=16)</p>
<p>TISC probably doesn’t refer to the one on W. 4th, because then your classroom code would either be T2XX, UCXX, or LCXX where x is a digit. </p>
<p>GODD are the basement classrooms in Goddard, those are on the corner of 4th and University underneath the Starbucks. You can’t access them through the Goddard residence hall, you have to go around through the Starbucks entrance.
[79</a> Washington Square E, New York, NY 10003 - Google Maps](<a href=“Google Maps”>Google Maps)</p>
<p>You’re correct about Kimmel and Bobst. Check here if you need more help or want to verify anything I told you off the top of my head: [NYU</a> > University Registrar > Registration > Building Code Key](<a href=“Class Registration, Transcripts, Graduation”>Class Registration, Transcripts, Graduation)
As for recitations, you shouldn’t be going to them if the lecture hasn’t met yet. Generally, the Blackboard page for the course will tell you which sections are meeting during syllabus week. Some sections for the same course will meet during that first week, and the ones that don’t will meet during finals week to make up for it so each has the same total classes.</p>
<p>@tmd
I have no idea. You’re giving me one piece of the puzzle. That may be fine if you have a tremendous GPA, recommendations, extracurriculars, and leadership experience. It may be too low if the rest of your application is weak. I can’t judge that. There are probably kids with scores <2000 here, I just haven’t met any.</p>
<p>When you say “acquiring a skill-set for something you want to do later” what are some examples of that?</p>
<p>And is everyone in the field/students you are competing with extremely motivated and driven? The competition seems unbearable</p>
<p>thank you, that was quite helpful!</p>
<p>@jd
Getting the quantitative background and experience to move to the buy-side (i.e. hedge, private equity, or venture capital). Or getting 5-15 years sell-side experience to start your own shop down the road. Or getting enough experience in high finance to do whatever you want later.</p>
<p>Everyone is incredibly motivated. The ones that aren’t are the ones that definitely will NOT get even a chance, because there are so many more who would literally do any and everything for just the shot at an interview. There are kids who have walked up and down the city knocking on doors, standing in lobbies talking with people, attending every type of networking event, cold-calling and emailing alumni and people in the industry, doing everything they can just to get their foot in the door. The competition just to get an interview is insane.</p>
<p>@whodat
You’re welcome. I remember how clueless a newcomer I was, I’ll do just about anything in my power to make that transition easier for someone else.</p>