Anna’s interest in finance began before college, sparked by a high school course that introduced her to the foundations of business and markets. At Syracuse University, she built on that foundation by majoring in finance and accounting and actively participating in the Syracuse Investment Club (SUIC). Through exposure to different career paths and conversations with industry professionals, Anna found her fit in sales and trading.

“I thought sales and trading was the best fit for me because of how fast-paced it is and the relationship focus,” she explained.

With a clear goal in mind and a strong commitment to preparation, Anna secured a Summer 2027 Sales and Trading role at Bank of America in New York. A key part of that journey was Adventis.

Student Success Story: Standing Out Through Technical Preparation

Anna first encountered Adventis through the Syracuse Investment Club, which hosted an on-campus financial modeling boot camp. She enrolled in the Financial Modeling Certification® (FMC®) Program during her freshman fall and quickly immersed herself in it.

The experience was both rigorous and rewarding.

“It’s a 9-to-5 boot camp where we go through all the different steps of building the financial model,” she said.

After completing both Level I and Level II certifications, Anna took her involvement even further by becoming a boot camp instructor, reinforcing her knowledge while helping others learn.

Through the FMC® Program, Anna developed a deep understanding of financial modeling, including building complex, fully integrated models under time constraints.

“I told interviewers it’s a fully circular, six-statement model, and I had to build it under 90 minutes,” she explained. “For the instructor level, I had to build an LBO model in under 60 minutes.”

Turning Technical Skills Into Interview Success

Anna’s Adventis experience became a defining element of her recruiting story. The certification appeared on her resume and consistently came up in interviews.

Even though sales and trading is less modeling-intensive than investment banking, her technical background demonstrated both capability and commitment.

“It shows that I’m passionate and that I understand more than just markets. I understand the numbers, too.”

That combination helped her stand out in a competitive applicant pool and communicate a well-rounded skill set to recruiters.

Gaining an Academic and Professional Edge

Anna credits much of her success to consistent networking and genuine curiosity about markets. “I started networking freshman year and continued building those relationships,” she shared. Through these efforts, she gained access to valuable insights and even visited trading floors, further solidifying her interest in the field.

Her advice to students is simple and direct:

“You can’t fake passion,” she said. “If you’re truly interested in markets and what’s going on in the world, it will show.”

A Strong Foundation for the Future

For Anna, Adventis was more than a certification. It was a tool that strengthened her technical foundation, elevated her academic performance, and helped her stand out in recruiting.

“Getting Adventis-certified shows that you’re passionate. It sets you apart.”