Charlie, a sophomore studying economics and Spanish at Boston College, did not enter college with a fixed plan to pursue a career in high finance. Like many students at Boston College, he was surrounded by peers exploring careers in investment banking and capital markets, which prompted him to learn more about the industry.

“It was a big push at Boston College for high finance and investment banking, so I decided to try it out and see what it was all about,” Charlie says.

As he explored the field and began networking, Charlie also completed the Adventis Financial Modeling Certification® (FMC®) Program through a boot camp hosted by the Boston College Investment Club. The experience gave him a practical introduction to financial modeling and corporate finance concepts.

Eventually, as he moved deeper into recruiting, Charlie realized that his interests aligned more closely with the markets side of finance. After pivoting toward sales and trading roles, he secured an internship on the derivatives solutions desk at Mizuho in New York.

Student Success Story: A Hands-On Introduction to Finance

Charlie first encountered the FMC® Program through friends and student leaders involved in the Boston College Investment Club.

“One of my roommates told me about it, and the investment club runs the boot camp a few times a year,” he explains. “I did the all-day boot camp in March.”

That experience gave him a practical introduction to the analytical side of finance.

“I thought it was really fascinating and interesting. It definitely got me introduced into the world of finance, and it was a great way to get my feet wet and see what it was actually about.”

Through the program, Charlie built a stronger foundation in accounting and financial statements, skills that quickly proved useful in the classroom.

“It helped a lot in my financial accounting class. I was way ahead because of it, and it gave me a much better accounting background than I would have had otherwise.”

Building Skills That Apply Across Finance

Although Charlie ultimately chose a role in sales and trading rather than investment banking, he found that the knowledge from Adventis continued to support his learning and recruiting preparation.

When researching companies and following market developments, he could apply the same financial statement knowledge he developed while completing the program.

“When I’m digging into companies or looking at their filings and recent news, it’s really helpful to understand how the financial statements actually work.”

Even though his future role will not require building full financial models daily, the technical understanding remains valuable.

“I might not be building a DCF model every day like someone in investment banking, but there’s definitely crossover no matter what you do in finance.”

Navigating Recruiting and Following the Right Path

Charlie’s recruiting journey also included an important pivot. After initially pursuing investment banking and completing more than 30 networking calls, he realized that sales and trading better matched his interests.

“The hardest part was pivoting in the middle of the process,” he says. “I’d already had 30 plus calls for investment banking by November.”

Despite the late shift, Charlie stayed focused and continued applying. His persistence paid off when he received an offer from Mizuho.

Reflecting on the process, Charlie encourages younger students to stay open-minded and explore different areas of finance.

“If you’re considering finance, Adventis is a great snapshot of what the work looks like. It gives you hands-on experience in a way you otherwise really can’t.”

He also emphasizes the importance of pursuing a path that genuinely interests you.

“Listen to your gut a little bit. You’re going to spend a lot of time working in these careers, so you have to find something you actually like.”