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Do I still have a chance in finance?
I go to a semi target school, my first year wasn't terrible but I struggled hard. (Above a 3.0) It wasn't hard but personal struggles mixed with bad time management. I plan to do better my next couple of semesters. I am not sure if I still have a chance at big finance companies. I am also not sure if I want to do IB or consulting. Everyone at my school seems to know what they want to do and they are very pre professional and experienced. As a first gen, I just feel lost LOL.
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Christopher’s Answer
You can turn this experience into a strong part of your story. The key first step is to learn from what you've been through and use those lessons to grow as a student. Since this was your first year in college, it's a big change, and many people find it hard to adjust right away. But if your grades get better, you can show that you grew from the challenges in your first year while adjusting to college life. You recognized these struggles and used them to become a better student. This is a fantastic point to highlight when applying to jobs. Nobody is perfect; we all make mistakes or have moments we wish we could change. That's what makes us human. This happens in jobs too. I've made plenty of mistakes in my career, but I learn from them and keep growing as a professional. Many employers see it as a big plus when someone can admit where they need to improve and use their past to help them grow.
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Rachel’s Answer
Hey Serenity!
I encourage you to take a deep breath- it is 100% okay to have a hard semester (and from what it sounds like, you still did well!!) and its also okay to not necessarily know what you want to do post-graduation.
There are so many factors that go into your ability to go into finance or consulting. Rest assured, while the 'big 4 consulting firms' / super large finance firms have competitive requirements to get in the door, 1- it is still possible to accomplish and 2- there are SO many companies that hire in these competencies. Sometimes we get set on needing the biggest brand name to hire us immediately but for some folks, starting at a middle market firm can be an even better fit. All that to be said, If I were in your position, I would start building relationships with professors who I connect well with to seek career advice and feedback, as well as the career guidance professionals at my school.
As someone who was also a first gen college student, I relied heavily on the resources my school had available to me and it was by far the most helpful thing when it came to navigating opportunities, asking questions, and getting reliable support and feedback.
I hope this helps! You got this- good luck!
I encourage you to take a deep breath- it is 100% okay to have a hard semester (and from what it sounds like, you still did well!!) and its also okay to not necessarily know what you want to do post-graduation.
There are so many factors that go into your ability to go into finance or consulting. Rest assured, while the 'big 4 consulting firms' / super large finance firms have competitive requirements to get in the door, 1- it is still possible to accomplish and 2- there are SO many companies that hire in these competencies. Sometimes we get set on needing the biggest brand name to hire us immediately but for some folks, starting at a middle market firm can be an even better fit. All that to be said, If I were in your position, I would start building relationships with professors who I connect well with to seek career advice and feedback, as well as the career guidance professionals at my school.
As someone who was also a first gen college student, I relied heavily on the resources my school had available to me and it was by far the most helpful thing when it came to navigating opportunities, asking questions, and getting reliable support and feedback.
I hope this helps! You got this- good luck!
Updated
Jocy’s Answer
Hi Serenity! There are so many awesome answers here. Being a first-gen can feel tough, but you’ve got this! Your GPA is strong, and you have lots of time to decide what you want to do. Try setting up coffee chats with professionals in fields you like to learn more about them. Joining clubs can also help you meet new people and talk to others your age who have interned at companies you're interested in. You can do it!