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What are the best ways to develop skills as a freshman in College?

I am a freshman in Finance, I know maybe I am rushing into things but it wouldn't hurt to try and develop some traits. I am targeting wealth management and am a Fidelity Scholar at UTD

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Evi’s Answer

Hi Wilson!

I am a recent graduate so I remember very vividly what this was like when I was breaking into finance.

My biggest tip would be to reach out to your upperclassmen who have secured wealth management internships (use linkedin) and coffee chat them. Ask them what they were asked during the interview, how they prepared, what they used to keep up with the news, who they networked with for the job (this gets you far for wealth management, etc. Because its just an upperclassmen you can keep the conversation casual and honest, you're not in competition with them so they should be more than willing to help and speak candidly about their experience.

Once you feel comfortable with carrying conversation regarding wealth, start coffee chatting professionals in the industry. Again, starting with analysts and then slowly moving up. Pairing this networking strategy with internships during the summer times will put you in a great spot.

Don't rush the networking, its definitely not some sort of quota you have to hit. Start slowly and gain confidence and the rest will organically follow. Good luck!!
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Johnson’s Answer

Hi Wilson,

You're not rushing at all. Starting this as a freshman is a smart move.

Focus on these three things: communication, networking, and technical skills. Get comfortable with Excel and basic finance concepts, and practice explaining complex ideas clearly. Wealth management relies on building trust as much as on investments.

Join finance clubs and attend employer events. Connect with upperclassmen or professionals for quick chats—you'll learn more from a 15-minute talk than from a textbook.

Try to get an internship or shadow someone, even in a small role. Real-world experience now will help you find what you enjoy in finance.

Keep being curious and developing good habits. They'll make things easier in the future. Good luck!
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Sarah’s Answer

Hi! You are not rushing. Freshman year is a great time to explore, build foundational skills, and learn what wealth management actually involves without expecting yourself to have your entire career mapped out.

Since you are studying finance and interested in wealth management, I recommend focusing on five areas:

1. Strengthen your communication skills. Wealth management is not only about understanding money. Advisors must explain complex information clearly, listen carefully, build trust, and maintain relationships. Take courses or join activities that help you practice speaking, writing, and presenting.
2. Build your financial knowledge. Learn the fundamentals of investing, financial planning, taxes, retirement, and risk management. You can also follow reputable financial news and practice explaining what you learn in plain language.
3. Gain practical experience. Look for internships, job-shadowing opportunities, campus employment, or volunteer roles involving budgeting, financial education, or customer service. Your first experience does not need to be a formal wealth management internship to help you develop relevant skills.
4. Use the opportunities already around you. As a Fidelity Scholar, learn about every mentoring, networking, professional development, and internship opportunity available through the program. Also connect with professors, career services, finance organizations, and alumni at UTD.
5. Develop your professional reputation. Be dependable, prepared, curious, and willing to follow through. Technical knowledge can be taught, but qualities such as integrity, initiative, judgment, and professionalism are especially important when clients are trusting you with their financial futures.

I also encourage students with a specific career interest to gain experience in that field before deciding exactly where they want to specialize. Try to speak with people working in private banking, financial planning, investment management, and other areas of finance. Wealth management may remain your goal, or those conversations may introduce you to a path you have not considered.

For now, choose one or two goals each semester. You might join a finance organization, attend two employer events, arrange an informational interview, and apply for a summer opportunity. Consistent progress will help you build skills without making your freshman year feel like a race.
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Susan’s Answer

Get involved in your university! College is about so much more than just the classroom. Meet people, get involved on campus, join clubs! Finance- related organizations are a great choice, but don't feel like you have to limit yourself to those. Other clubs and organizations can give you valuable opportunities to take on leadership roles- like serving as a finance chair or treasurer - that build real-world experience and strengthen your resume.
Look for internship opportunities early; they are one of the best ways to gain relevant experience, explore different career paths, and begin building your professional network. The experience you gain now can help set you apart and put you on a strong path after graduation.
Good luck!
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Azwa’s Answer

Hi, that's a great question, here is my recommendation
Networking events : WM is relationship-driven; Hit every UTD finance club event, Fidelity Scholars mixer, and any WM firm info session on campus. Follow up with a LinkedIn connection + short thank-you note each time , that's how "met once" becomes "remembered."
Informational interviews : 1:1 coffee chats with UTD alumni . Ask for intros at the networking events themselves.
Campus involvement : investment club or student-managed fund for a concrete "story" bullet.
LinkedIn outreach is extremely important, personalized messages to UTD alumni in WM, convert connections to calls, ask questions, request intros , ask for 15 min calls
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Nandishkumar’s Answer

Starting your career planning early as a freshman Fidelity Scholar at UT Dallas gives you a great head start. Wealth management is special because it combines technical skills with building trust. Here are four key habits to help you stand out:

1) Practice explaining finance in simple terms. Wealth advisors do well when they make complex ideas easy to understand. Join groups like the Financial Leadership Association at UTD and try explaining market news to friends who aren’t studying finance.

2) Use your UTD and Fidelity connections early. Attend mentorship events through your Fidelity scholarship and connect with the Jindal School of Management Career Management Center in your first year. This will help you find early opportunities.

3) Get good at Excel and learn about the market. Learn important Excel functions and spend 10 minutes a day reading The Wall Street Journal or Bloomberg to improve your financial knowledge.

4) Have informal chats with professionals. Contact UTD wealth management alumni on LinkedIn for short 15-minute conversations. They enjoy helping eager freshmen, and asking for advice instead of a job makes networking easier.

Focus on doing well in your classes, staying curious, and building real relationships. You can think about specialized licensing, like SIE or CFP, in your junior or senior year.
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Keri’s Answer

It's never too early to start! There are some really great answers and advice in this thread. The only thing I would add is to make sure to introduce yourself to all of your professors and attend office hours. Connections with faculty are one of the most underutilized connections during college. Professors have taught thousands of students and are a direct line to career connections after college ends. You should also make sure to take advantage of the resources provided by the Fidelity Scholar program. I'm sure they offer a lot of events, meetings, and a great support network. Good luck!

Keri recommends the following next steps:

Meet with all of your professors.
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Douglas’s Answer

I don't think you're rushing it. Honestly freshman year is a good time to start because you have a lot of time to figure stuff out before internships and recruiting get more serious.

If you want to do wealth management I would focus on getting good at talking to people, networking, Excel, and just understanding basic finance stuff. Wealth management is super people based so being able to have a conversation, explain things clearly and make people trust you is gonna matter a lot.

I would also join some finance clubs and go to career fairs or company events even if you feel like you don't know anything yet. Talk to older students and ask where they interned, how they got interviews and what they wish they did freshman year. That will probably help you more than trying to plan out your whole life right now.

Also don't worry if your first internship isn't wealth management. Your first internship is mostly about getting experience and having something on your resume. Once you get one it gets a lot easier to get another one. Any sort of finance related internship freshman/sophomore year stands out a lot.

You're already a Fidelity Scholar and you know you want to do finance so you're in a good spot. Just start building experience, meet people and don't overthink it.
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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question. Apart from the knowledge you learned from your major and minor, there are some skills that are vital fir your future careers development.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Communication both written and verbal
2. Critical Thinking
3. Time Management
4. Problem Solving
5. Stakeholders Management
Hope this helps ! Good luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
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Sergio’s Answer

Today, there are so many chances to learn new skills. You can find lots of free online courses and ways to go beyond your regular schoolwork. The key is to stay curious! Push yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Take risks and try to connect with as many people as you can, like classmates and teachers.
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Saneh’s Answer

You’re definitely not rushing. Starting early is a massive advantage, especially in a relationship-driven field like wealth management, and being a Fidelity Scholar at UTD gives you a great head start.

Here is where you should focus your energy right now:

1. Communication: Wealth management is all about trust and relationships. Practice taking complex financial concepts and explaining them simply. If you can't talk to people effectively, the technical stuff won't matter.
2. The Basics: Get really comfortable with Excel. Start building your market literacy by skimming the Wall Street Journal or Bloomberg daily to see what's happening with interest rates and asset classes. You don't need to worry about things like the SIE exam just yet—just get familiar with the markets.
3. Networking: Lean hard into your campus resources. Go to the Fidelity Scholar events, join a club like the Financial Management Association (FMA) or an investment fund, and start DMing UTD alumni on LinkedIn for quick 15-minute coffee chats. You'll learn way more from a brief conversation than from a textbook.

Don't try to tackle everything at once. Pick just one or two things to focus on this semester so you don't burn out.
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Swapna’s Answer

I don't know enough about the specific benefits of the Fidelity Scholar program at UTD. But overall as a freshman, you are actually at the perfect stage to start building skills so it's not rushing at all.
Since you are interested in Wealth Management some areas that you could improve your knowledge are on :
• Financial literacy and investment basics
• Excel and data analysis skills
• Communication and relationship building abilities including networking opportunities like students group
• Seek out internships or mentorship opportunities
Small, consistent actions taken early can create a strong foundation for a successful career in wealth management. From the above pointers you can gain exposure & experience through student organizations from the same domain, case competitions, internships, shadowing professionals and following financial markets regularly.
Don't worry about specializing too quickly. Spend your first year exploring, building foundational skills and learning what aspects of finance genuinely interest you. Curiosity, communication skills and a willingness to learn will take you a long way in wealth management
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Andrew’s Answer

I had a teacher once say how do you get to Carnegie Hall... The answer: PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

I was a Mortgage Loan Officer for two years at a large home loan lender. The skills that I would tell you is to focus on your ability to communicate with others. Active Listening and acting with emparthy is one of the most important skills to have when talking to a person about their personal finances. A person is not going to buy from you, unless they know you care about them.

Sales skills are another important skill to work on. Too often, we think of salespersons as cringeworthy, what you need to work on doing is being the expert, but relateable. You want to guide them to the correct decison. There are two factors that I really think make the difference between the guys like me that didn't make it a full career in banking and those who are highly successful. 1) Is the ability to sale products 2) Hustle. Both are under your control.

I have not worked in wealth management, but they intertwine into our worlds. I would reccomend that you start to job shadow people within your field of interest. I will tell you that finding a mentor in this field will make a huge difference and will pay dividends in your career and your pocketbook.

Join the professional organization and remember to get comfortable being uncomfortable. You are going to be dealing with all the biggest issues in a person's life like the birth of a child, marriages, and death. Clients are going to want you to be the one that helps them make the best financial choices. You are helping people with these life events by giving them the financial advice to help them with their goals.

You got this!!! Hustle and Be Gritty.
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Dan’s Answer

You're not rushing at all. Starting now is one of the smartest things you can do, and being a Fidelity Scholar already shows you're serious!

Wealth management is a people business as much as a numbers business. Clients trust you with their families' futures, so the skills that matter most are communication, listening, and building relationships. My first business job was in sales, and I learned early that people do business with people they trust.

Here's how I'd build those skills as a freshman:

- Talk to people: Join a finance or investment club, go to networking events, and practice introducing yourself. Every conversation makes the next one easier.
- Find mentors: Ask professors, upperclassmen, and people in the industry about their careers. Most people are happy to help a student who asks.
- Take on leadership: Run for an officer role in a club or lead a project. Managing people teaches you things no class can.
- Get a head start on licensing: The SIE (Securities Industry Essentials) exam is open to anyone 18 or older, and you don't need to work for a firm to take it. Passing it shows employers you're committed.
- Manage your own money: Budget, save, and learn how investing works by doing it.
- Keep reading: Books and audiobooks about great leaders, company turnarounds, and even business failures have taught me a lot.

Stay curious, be kind, and invest in the people around you. You're off to a great start!
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Aee’s Answer

Hello Wilson,

First, I don't think you're rushing at all. As a freshman, this is actually a great time to start building skills and exploring your interests.

If you're interested in wealth management, focus on developing a strong understanding of investments, financial planning, and market fundamentals. Along with your coursework, try to improve your communication and relationship-building skills, since wealth management is as much about working with people as it is about numbers. I would also recommend joining finance-related clubs, attending networking events, connecting with professionals and alumni, and seeking mentorship opportunities. These experiences can help you learn more about the industry and build valuable connections early on.

To strengthen your resume, consider creating your own investment portfolio, participating in stock market competitions, conducting company or market analyses, or writing about financial topics that interest you. These projects demonstrate initiative and show employers that you're serious about the field. Most importantly, maintain strong grades and stay curious. You're already ahead of many students by thinking about your career development as a freshman. Focus on learning, building relationships, and gaining experience step by step, and you'll be in a strong position when internship opportunities start coming up.
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Sai’s Answer

Congratulations on becoming a Fidelity scholar! This is a fantastic opportunity, and I encourage you to look into internships and job shadowing at Fidelity to gain valuable experience.

To build a strong foundation in Wealth Management, start by researching the different roles available and find out which ones interest you the most. Here are some career paths in Wealth Management to consider:

1. Relationship Manager: This role involves working with customers, so strong communication and problem-solving skills are essential. Keeping up with financial news, like reading the Wall Street Journal, can also be helpful.

2. Portfolio Analyst: This position requires good financial analysis and analytical skills. Earning certifications like the CFA can be beneficial.

3. Back Office Processing & Accounting: For this role, focus on developing skills in finance, accounting, operations, and technology.

Each path offers unique opportunities to grow and succeed in the Wealth Management field.
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Monica’s Answer

Hi Wilson,

That is a great question! If I was freshman, I would focus on the skills that work best in customer service i.e. public speaking, communications, critical thinking, leadership...anything management.
Taking those type of courses will get you out of your comfort zone faster than you can believe.

Keep striving for excellence!


- Monica S.
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Jose’s Answer

Getting familiar with Excel is a foundational piece in choosing Finance as a career. You'll often times utilize it more than an expected, and as for wealth management, analysis will be a strong component for your success. Your insights will help drive decisions, so having credible and purpose driven support data will enable success.

Jose recommends the following next steps:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/get-started/what-is-excel
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Tony’s Answer

Join clubs and groups related to your interests to stay active and engaged. This will help you build a network that could lead to exciting opportunities. Look for finance or business clubs, especially if you're a freshman. Have fun and don't stress too much!
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Marc’s Answer

First of all - CONGRATS on getting into UTD, that's a great business school! Second, lots of credit to you for getting ahead on your career - you can never be too early to start preparing.

To echo Sarah's point - the name of the game is networking. Everyone hires people they're familiar with. The more you network, the more professionals you know at different firms, the better your chances are at landing a great internship at a great wealth management firm. Take advantage of going to such a large and strong school such as UTD. I was Dm'ing alumni on Linkedin NONSTOP when I was in college and it paid off big time.

Also, the SIE Exam is a huge advantage if you pass it before graduating. Don't rush this though, the credential is only valid for 4 years so aim to do this during the summer entering your junior year. It will make you even more impressive for internships and careers in your final 2 years at college. Your resume will be far ahead others.

Wishing you all the best!
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Christina’s Answer

Hi Wilson!

Thank you for your question. It is great that you're looking to learn more about your field. I would recommend connecting with those who are already working in the field; they can give you valuable advice and guidance. Also, consider internships—they're a fantastic way to gain hands-on experience and learn more about the job.

Wishing you all the best!
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Trina’s Answer

Try setting some goals to get started. These goals can include meeting new people, learning from experts in the field, and gaining knowledge on your own. Join social media groups related to your interests and soak up all the information you can. Building these connections now will definitely benefit you later. You've got this!
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Trena’s Answer

Hi Wilson,

Great job on asking such a smart question as a new freshman! This shows you're already on the right path.

Here are some key skills that will help you succeed:

1. Time management - Explore different methods and find what suits you best.

2. Keep up with your courses - Avoid leaving things until the last minute.

3. Connect with your classmates.

4. Aim to truly understand the material, not just to earn a grade.

Good luck, and keep your eyes on your goals!
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Sagarika’s Answer

Great job, Wilson! You're taking a smart step by thinking about your career now. It's the perfect time to focus on a few key skills that will really help you succeed.

Improving your communication and networking skills is important. These skills will help you connect with mentors and professionals who can guide you and open doors to job opportunities.

Also, boosting your Excel and financial modeling skills is crucial for any finance job. While different roles may require different things, being strong in these areas shows your technical expertise and is essential for a successful career in finance. Keep up the good work!
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Sean’s Answer

It's great that you're starting early to decide where you want to go after graduation. Whether you're interested in Wealth Management or another Finance field, reach out to the Business School administration. They can help you find resources and connect with classmates, especially upperclassmen, to learn more about these fields.

As a former Finance major, I know there are many career paths you can take. Keep an open mind and consider at least 2-4 options that your degree offers.

For Wealth Management, your success will depend on your ability to build models, analyze data, and present your ideas to clients or management. Focus on developing these skills:
- Financial Modeling
- Understanding Micro- and Macro-Economic Concepts and Theories with real-life applications
- Communication and Presentation Skills
- Engaging and Influencing Others
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Kyle’s Answer

Hello! In my opinion, the best way to develop major/career-specific skills is to identify clubs, organizations and overall opportunities where you can be around like-minded individuals and career professionals.

Specifically, I would recommend the following:

1. Identify a mentor and work closely with them to learn more about the industry and required skills
2. Self-teach via online resources, courses, Youtube, etc.
3. Take on new projects, build your portfolio, and overall challenge yourself to always be learning.

There are many other ways you can grow your skills, but exposure is big one!

Best of luck.
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Christine Guy’s Answer

This is such a great question! I would encourage you to remember that college gives you the opportunity to develop skills not only in the classroom but outside of the classroom. By exploring clubs and organizations, campus jobs, etc. that are offered, you can enhance the skills you already have an build new skills. Whether it is relationship building (with all ages), leadership, critical thinking, problem solving, and so much more. It is great to find clubs or organizations that align with your interest in Finance, but realize that you can develop skills related to your field of interest in other clubs and organizations as well (such as being the treasurer for an organization). I also suggest looking into internships whether it is during the summer or even exploring internships that you can take advantage of during the semester as well. Finally, find a mentor (or mentors), learn from your classmates, and take advantage of what the college experience has to offer. I wish you luck in all your future endeavors!
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