Adventis has established a meaningful presence atIowa State University, equipping students with industry-leading financial modeling skills through theFinancial Modeling Certification® (FMC®) Program. One student who has taken full advantage of that partnership is Anthony, Iowa State Class of 2027. After a gap year and a winding road into finance, Anthony used the FMC® Program to sharpen his technical skills and earn a summer analyst offer at Lincoln International, a premier middle-market investment bank headquartered in Chicago.

A Non-Traditional Path Into High Finance

Anthony's journey to investment banking didn't follow the conventional script. He took a gap year after high school, uncertain about college and what came after. When he eventually enrolled at Iowa State, he gravitated quickly toward business and finance, joining the investment group and then the Wall Street Club, which later evolved into the Iowa State Investment Banking Initiative (IIBI).

It was through the IIBI that Anthony first heard about Adventis. The club made it a priority for new members, and Anthony took that recommendation seriously. He completed the program during his sophomore year, right as his recruiting season was beginning.

Coming from a non-target school, Anthony knew he needed every edge he could find. Networking, certifications, and demonstrated skills were not optional extras — they were requirements.

"Especially coming from Iowa State, a non-target school, you have to do a little bit more to get in front of these bankers and even get an interview, a Super-day, and then eventually an offer."

How the FMC® Program Built the Skills That Mattered

For Anthony, the most valuable part of the FMC® Program was what it taught him to actually do, not just understand in theory.

"Learning different finance concepts from a conceptual standpoint is one thing, but being able to understand how it works in a model is a different thing entirely. You don't really learn that unless you actually do it."

That practical foundation paid dividends immediately when his certifications came up in networking calls and interviews. Recruiters noticed the Level I and Level II credentials on his resume and asked about them, giving Anthony a natural opportunity to demonstrate real knowledge.

"People knew what Adventis was and asked how it was helping me. Whether they recognized it or not, I was able to talk about what it taught me and how it applies to banking."

The skills proved just as relevant once he started his current private equity internship at Midwest Partners. On day three, the team was building LBOs from scratch. Because of the Adventis curriculum, Anthony was ready.

Real-World Proof and a Word to Future Students

Anthony's experience at Midwest Partners has reinforced exactly why he recommends Adventis to anyone entering business or finance, not just those targeting investment banking.

"I wouldn't have known how to build an LBO if I hadn't done the Adventis certification. The macros alone are a game changer; — they make everything so much more efficient."

His networking, combined with his technical preparation, helped him stand out through 14 or 15 individual conversations with people at Lincoln International before ultimately receiving his offer. The culture at Lincoln drew him in, but it was his readiness that got him in the room.

For students earlier in their path, Anthony's advice is straightforward: don't wait.

"Adventis is useful for anybody, not just if you're going into high finance. The concepts it teaches, along with the actual modeling, are valuable regardless of what direction you take."