<p>I will be entering HumEc as a PAM major in the fall. Will I have time to do the following during my 4 years here while maintaining a good GPA?</p>
<p>PAM major (obviously)
Math minor
take enough classes in AEM to "minor" in business (official minors only given to CALS students)</p>
<p>I want to get into iBanking and I know its all about who you know/speak to in the industry, but I also want to demonstrate quantitative skills and an interest in finance on my transcript. I have a good reason for being in PAM over AEM and can easily connect the major to my interest in finance.</p>
<p>would you recommend anything else to help my chances of breaking in?</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I was an Econ major, not in CALS, but I think that I know enough about breaking into iBanking to steer you in the right direction.</p>
<p>Looking at the AEM minor requirements, it seems the minor should only require 4-6 additional classes to your PAM major, and if there are any cross-listed courses, maybe less (I didn’t really check for that). I would try to make sure you take at least 1-2 finance course(s), 1 accounting course, and 1 management course. </p>
<p>For quantitative abilities, a math minor might be excessive as it requires 4 300+ level classes to complete, and you are only eligible for those classes after completing multivariable calculus and linear algebra. For undergraduate prep for a finance career, I would advocate at least through multivariable and linear algebra, but not necessarily taking additional 4 upper-level math courses. I would honestly try to substitute some of the math with at least one computer science class, programming ability will open your career options in banking. </p>
<p>The math/CS classes would be your potential GPA-sinkers. PAM and AEM are both pretty easy majors to obtain a high GPA in (at least relative to most other majors at Cornell). If you are intent on focusing on quant prep, given the science requirements in CALS, this will basically determine your classes you take every semester, with little flexibility. I think that’s great if you are looking solely at career prep, but I personally would not like the lack of variety of classes; of course then again, that’s why I belonged in CALS, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind. Then again, you don’t have to figure out everything your first semester; though to keep on the path you currently envision for yourself, you’ll probably want to be decided by the end of freshman year.</p>
<p>I will not be able to minor in anything in AEM, the minor is only open to students in CALS. I will still take those classes though.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help. All else equal, do you think that taking these classes (PAM major, math/AEM/CS courses you suggested) would put my transcript on a similar level as kids in AEM for requiters? </p>
<p>I’m not in banking and my interests were never in banking. I did Econ/Govt for majors and minors in International Relations/German. But it’s really hard to be an econ major and not be aware of what can set you apart for a career in banking, since many of my peers were focused on that (and I did take Financial Economics, which is probably the single most intense finance course at Cornell). </p>
<p>And you’re right, you can’t minor in AEM. Now I understand the scare quotes in your original post (Sorry, CALS/HumEc are in both in the Ag quad so as an arts student it all seemed the same). </p>
<p>I’ve always felt that quantitative ability was something that sets you apart in investment banking because quite honestly, AEM will mostly be teaching you how to apply basic math skills (Except for maybe some advanced AEM courses, I don’t think any go beyond Calc I). The skills are great prep, but recruiters are more impressed if you can think critically (and if you know how ibanking interviews are, this is very true). So AEM will teach you skills that you’ll actually use, but having a math/cs background is more vital (in my opinion) because they teach you more how to think. Any bank will put you through their training program for specific skills anyway.</p>
<p>True, most likely, especially out of undergrad, you won’t be a “quant” at an investment bank, but I think it sets you up well. So take the finance, accounting and management courses, since the banks still want to see you have a base knowledge, but you can set yourself apart from most of your peers if you take a good amount of math and computer science (and excel in those courses).</p>
<p>for banking, it is all about your GPA + internship experience in getting that first interview. After that, it is all about how well you sell yourself.</p>
<p>taking some finance courses or majoring in certain discipline in and out of itself won’t get you an edge in banking recruiting. try to maintain a 3.7+ GPA in PAM, have some strong internships, and study vault interview prep guide.</p>
<p>I think I will be able to find a decent first internship through family/friend connections after my freshman year.</p>
<p>is recruiting different for AEM and PAM? are advisers as keyed in to finance opportunities?</p>
<p>according to PAM, 14/44 graduates went in to financial services and 16/44 graduates had a starting salary of $60k+ so the opportunities can’t be that bad, right?</p>
<p>employers from banking and consulting industries recruit school-wide, and they accept applications from pretty much most majors at Cornell. Unless you major in some ridiculously unconventional major, like fashion or African Tribal Religions or something, you should be good to go.</p>
<p>Getting that first interview is really about your GPA and rest of your resume re: internship experiences. To get an offer, you have to interview well and know how to sell yourself.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There is such wide range of jobs within ‘financial services industry’ that not all of those PAM grads, i suspect, are working in I-banking or Sales/Trading.</p>
<p>For example, even if someone got a job at Operations Department at Goldman Sachs, that guy is counted as ‘employed in financial sector’.</p>
<p>Hence, those kind of broad stats don’t mean much at all. All i can tell you is that I knew several kids from PAM who are now working in IBD, also i knew some others from ILR, government, or engineering who are now working as analysts at I-banking or consulting… So i guess what you major in doesn’t matter much</p>
<p>All else equal (big assumption), I’d still argue AEM/Econ give you a SLIGHT edge over PAM. However, it’s much more important that you learn to think critically so you can handle the interviews & set yourself apart in internships. Hence my advocacy of learning some math/cs. Those courses aren’t necessary for entry level finance, but should you ever want to be a “quant” at these firms, then the math background becomes necessary.</p>
<p>having math/ cs background can’t hurt, it is just that those courses are significantly harder than econ, AEM, or PAM. I suspect that your average student at PAM or AEM doesn’t have the math aptitude or brains to survive upper level CS or math courses. I know I didn’t. In case you f-up your GPA from taking those CS or math courses, you might not even get a first round interview for I-banking firms. Hence, this is a very risky proposition.</p>
<p>The only case when I would recommend CS to anyone is 1) if that individual is interested in pursuing that major or career in CS, 2) if that individual has a very strong math background and decent programming skills. Otherwise, it ain’t worth it.</p>
<p>Lastly, to get hired for the quant positions at I-banks or prop trading firms, you pretty much need a PhD in engineering, CS, Physics, or Math from a top program. They almost never hire an undergrad CS or Math major no matter how good that individual may be.</p>
<p>I would try the math/CS and if it’s hurting your GPA, maybe try those classes pass/fail at least. I didn’t mean to imply that you could be a “quant” simply by taking those courses, but it’ll be really hard to get into the appropriate masters program if you don’t have that prep.</p>