<p>Im a freshman doing my first quarter at stanford right now and Im super interested in investment banking (sounds like im on the right track, huh?). However, the only problem is I constantly feel like the admissions fluke (cliche, I know). Everyone around me has done so much more, are so much more successful, and are even much more social than me. I am completely not used to having to apply and interview for clubs, and it just seems like everyone around me is becoming an associate for some finance group while I keep on failing. It seems like I can't get any finance/consulting/business experience right now because I don't have any experience from high school. My question is, is this a normal phenomenon or am I the type of person who doesn't get into banking? If so, what do I need to change to get on track?</p>
<p>Hi, I had a similar experience to you during my freshman year at my school. I thought people were so much more successful than me because they were in business clubs with a bunch of fancy names and did “business” things all the time. </p>
<p>It’s alright to feel overwhelmed and uncompetitive. But, you have to realize that a lot of these business clubs don’t really matter. If you really think about it, the clubs create positions for the sake of having positions; their actual role in the club has little to do with business (unless it’s some kind of consulting club doing pro-bono work - those are legit). What these clubs are good for are to develop professionalism (i.e. interview, resume, dress skills). If you can develop that on your own then you will be just as good as anyone else. With that being said, you should still participate something but it doesn’t need to be business clubs specifically - just do what you enjoy so you have something on your resume.</p>
<p>I’m a sophomore now and I didn’t really fit in with the people in business club back as a freshman so I never joined. But, I did go do my own thing and work hard for high grades and now I’ve landed an internship that a lot of people in my class had wanted. So, don’t be discouraged by everyone. Just do your own thing and do it well.</p>