Finance: good decision or not?

goodkid129

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Hey guys, I just wanted to know if it would be a good idea for me to go into finance. I’ve read through the forums and there is a lot of discouragement to go into this field if you dont have stellar grades, good networking skills. and a good work ethic. I just wanted to discuss my situation here.
Im about to complete my Bcom and my grades are as follows:
1st year: 3.7 gpa
2nd year: 2.3gpa (grades are low here because I lost my focus and didnt study hard enough)
3rd year: 3.5gpa
4th year: 3.7gpa
Are these grades good enough to go into finance? Will I be able to find a entry level position after graduating?
Would I have to relocate to NYC from Toronto due to better opportunities?
Is a CFA+MBA good enough? I see a lot of people with CFA,FRM,MBA,MSF,etc are that many degrees really necessary?
I ask these questions because I just want to know what the future holds if I decide to go into finance. There is a lot of negativity on these forums and people just tell others not to go into finance if you cant get into research or IB. Im reaching a point where I have to decide whether to go for the CFA or not so I would really appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks
 
you haven’t said what it is you want to do. “getting into finance” is way too vague. and finance can mean anything from back office, operations, to investment banking or private equity. GPA alone doesn’t do much. what school are you from? how old are you?
 
Your credentials are decent enough, but you know, my personal opinion is that potential new entrants into the industry should probably stay away from it for, oh, I don’t know, say 10-15 years. This should provide just enough additional time for the labor demand to converge with the labor supply and for my total income to gravitate toward its fair and just (as defined by me) equilibrium level.
After that, I mean, you can do whatever you want.
 
im 21 years old and im about to complete my undergrad at ryerson university. The reason I posted my gpa is because im coming from a non-target school and wanted to know if I have a good chance of getting into iBanking, portfolio management, or PE.
Im intersted in the CFA but I just want to know if I have a chance of actually getting into the industry or not.
do people with decent grades from non target schools make it into these areas of finance?
Are there good job prospects for someone from a non target? in Toronto or NYC?
 
Where there’s a will there’s a way. But make sure investments/the CFA is really the route you’re passionate about, because it’s a long, hard road. Plus, given the low completion rate (~10%) of the CFA, you better love the material or you’re just going to become another statistic.
 
If you don’t jump into IB or research out of school, its going to be a really long road. What were your co-op/interim terms in? What have you been doing the last four summers? Its February, we’ve already hired our new grads for May. What have you been doing since the recruiting started in Oct/Nov? You’re really late to this party, even if you were well positioned (your grades aren’t bad).
Not to say its impossible, but its going to be a really tough battle.
That said, I wanted to be an IB guy in school, I’m really happy that didn’t pan out. And remember the sage advice of Itera and I, you should really consider plumbing, its a much higher risk weighted return than any finance garbage.
 
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