AJ did not begin his college career focused on finance. As a student-athlete at Syracuse, his early ambitions were rooted in athletics. After transferring to Boston College, he began to think more seriously about his long-term career path and discovered an interest in capital markets and equities.

“I knew I wanted to be in business but didn’t really know what that meant,” AJ shared. “I started having conversations with upperclassmen, doing my own research, and really decided I wanted to go into banking, more on the capital markets and equity side.”

Through a combination of networking, independent effort, and technical preparation, AJ ultimately secured a Summer 2027 Institutional Equities role at Morgan Stanley. A key part of that preparation came through Adventis.

Student Success Story: Building Technical Confidence with Adventis

AJ first discovered Adventis through the Boston College Investment Club, where a weekly memo promoted an in-person financial modeling boot camp. At the time, he had little exposure to Excel or financial modeling.

“I had never touched it before,” he said. “I’m an econ major, so not taking a lot of business direct classes. I thought it would be really important to have in my back pocket for recruiting and for the job.”

After enrolling in the Financial Modeling Certification® Program, AJ quickly recognized its value. The combination of structured learning, hands-on application, and flexible online resources helped him build practical skills that his coursework did not provide.

“Adventis really helped me with the more practical aspect of the job, especially as an analyst,” he explained.

The in-person boot camp played a particularly impactful role in accelerating his learning.

“It kind of forces you to do it,” AJ said. “It’s a long day, but it was really in-depth. It started very basic and then went into the weeds of modeling. I couldn’t believe how much I got from one boot camp.”

Beyond the live experience, AJ continues to rely on the program’s resources to refine his skills.

From Learning to Interviewing

AJ’s experience with Adventis also translated directly into recruiting. The Financial Modeling Certification® Program appeared on his resume and became a talking point during interviews.

“It came up in interviews,” he noted. “I explained what it was, why I did it, and what I learned.”

Having that foundation allowed him to approach technical conversations with greater confidence, even as someone coming from a non-traditional finance background.

Advice for Future Students

Reflecting on his journey, AJ emphasizes that students do not need prior experience or industry connections to break into finance.

“You don’t have to have worked in finance as a freshman or have parents in the industry,” he said. “I think there’s room for everybody.”

He also encourages students not to be intimidated by technical concepts.

“The jargon can scare people, but if you push past that and are willing to work, you can learn it.”