Finance Fast-Track

The Finance Fast-Track is designed to provide incoming students with the opportunity to access an accelerated course progression in order to prepare them for certain competitive careers in finance. Accepted students will take recommended economics and finance courses in their first two years at St. Olaf. Students participating in this opportunity should consider an economics major with a finance emphasis.

Finance employers are increasingly engaging with students in their sophomore year. Many major finance firms are hiring for post-junior year summer internships in the spring semester of the sophomore year! The Finance Fast-Track , in addition to academic advising and intentional coaching in the Piper Center for Vocation and Career, enables students to be competitive for these opportunities by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to successful.

The Piper Center for Vocation and Career has developed a four-year Co-Curricular Recommendation to outline suggested co-curricular activities for students with career interests in Finance.

It is recommended that students interested in careers in Finance should major in Economics with a Finance Emphasis. Please follow the course recommendations outlined on the Economics Department Website.

Technology Recommendation: PC-based computers are the standard in careers in finance.

Co-Curricular

1. Join the St. Olaf Investment Club (career-focused group where juniors and seniors provide support and guidance to students interested in finance)
Join clubs and programs that align with your interests; if possible, look for treasurer roles in these organizations
Attend Pillars of Wall Street financial modeling training

Career

Get into the Piper Center to meet with a business-focused Peer Advisor by the end of October
Have a completed resume by the end of the first semester
Network with at least five alumni working in a broad range of finance roles (the best way to learn about an industry is to speak with someone currently working in it); use the alumni database and LinkedIn to locate alumni
A summer internship is desirable but not necessary; opportunities for first-years can materialize through conversations with alumni

Reading

1. Choose a few books from: Venture Capital, Private Equity and Investment Banking reading list

Lynda.com Courses

1. Complete the Excel Essentials Training course

2. Complete the PowerPoint Essentials Training course

3. Complete the Finance Foundations course

Co-Curricular

Look for jobs on campus that will complement your education and career search (i.e. Supplemental Instructor, Teacher’s Assistant, etc.)
Look for opportunities to become a leader in clubs and programs that align with your interests
Attend Pillars of Wall Street financial modeling training
Attend finance-focused connections programs through the Piper Center (New York during spring break, Chicago during fall break, etc.)

Career

In September, meet with a business-focused coach in the Piper Center to develop a recruiting plan
Attend the Fall Recruiting Showcase to learn about firms that recruit at St. Olaf, especially those that may recruit sophomores
Visit the Minnesota Private Colleges Fall Recruiting Fair to meet with local, regional and national recruiters.
Look for a summer internship that will build technical skills related to finance (i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
Continue to network with alumni and narrow the focus to a group of finance industries that you are especially interested in; also target alumni in locations you prefer to work in (e.g. New York, Chicago, San Francisco)
Recruiting for top internships for the summer after junior year may begin in the Spring, so be alert and prepared.

Reading

1. Be sure to read Investment Banking by Rosenbaum and Pearl

2. Choose a few books from: Venture Capital, Private Equity and Investment Banking reading list

Lynda.com Courses

1. Complete the Excel for Corporate Finance Professionals course

2. Complete the Forecasting Using Financial Statements course

3. Complete the Financial Modeling Foundations course

4. Complete the Mergers and Acquisitions course

Co-Curricular

1. Attend finance-focused connections programs through the Piper Center (New York, Chicago, etc.)

2. Attend Pillars of Wall Street financial modeling training (if offered that year)

3. Continue to look for leadership opportunities through campus work and organizations

Career

1. Attend the Fall Recruiting Showcase to get in contact with firms that are seeking juniors
Visit the Minnesota Private Colleges Fall Recruiting Fair to meet with local, regional and national recruiters.
Utilize late summer and fall recruiting to secure an internship for the summer
a. This internship is very important as it often leads to full-time employment after one’s senior year
b. Additionally, the top full-time positions will be filled with the firm’s summer interns, so the chances of landing a top full-time job is smaller than landing a top junior year internship
c. Previous effort networking will lead to opportunities
Continue networking with more focus on desired industry and geography

Reading

1. Choose a few books from:Venture Capital, Private Equity and Investment Banking reading list

Co-Curricular

1. Continue to look for leadership opportunities through campus work and organizations

Career

1. Secure a job through the summer internship (i.e., a return offer) or through Fall recruiting;
Begin networking with a long-term focus; speak with individuals that are doing interesting work and who may be a potential employer in the future
Consider studying for the CFA Level 1 exam (sitting for the test in June) if relevant to your career interests and goals.

Reading

1. Choose many books from: Venture Capital, Private Equity and Investment Banking reading lists

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