Adventis has partnered with the Finance Scholars Program at the University of Kansas, bringing the Financial Modeling Certification® (FMC®) Program to students through in-person boot camps. Kieran is one of those students. He transferred to KU from community college with a clear goal of studying finance. After completing his junior summer internship at Lincoln International, he will return to the firm full-time in its M&A group in Chicago. His preparation began with a single boot camp.

From Community College to the Finance Scholars Program

Kieran’s interest in finance started in high school. He read books on economics and investing and began investing money he earned from a part-time job. He spent his first year at community college, always planning to transfer to a four-year school. Internships in an accounting role and with an independent sponsor confirmed that M&A was the career he wanted.

At KU, he joined the Finance Scholars Program, which introduced him to Adventis. He attended an on-campus boot camp and saw how much in-person instruction added.

“The videos are great, but having someone in person to answer questions and help if you get stuck makes a real difference. Learning from someone a few years ahead who can connect the material to real-world situations is what really stands out.”

Technical Skills That Translate to the Desk

Kieran completed his certification around the same time he secured his junior summer internship. The FMC® Program gave him a working knowledge of models that he relied on in interviews.

“It definitely helped me with technical interviews. Understanding the technical side of the questions being asked, and knowing what a model actually looks like, helped me think through a lot of them.”

The practical skills carried into his internship as well.

“Being fast with Excel helps you stand out in your internship. Having a high-level understanding of how an operating model works, and how it feeds into your valuation methods, is something you’ll benefit from.”

Mastering the Model by Teaching It

After earning his certification, Kieran applied to become a Student Trainer, completed the training process, and now leads boot camps for younger students. The role raised his standard for his own work.

“Completing the whole model in a much shorter amount of time forces you to really understand how it works. Being able not only to build the model but also to explain it to someone else is a skill that will benefit me in my career.”

His advice to underclassmen is direct:

“This is a skill that’s going to be valuable if you’re interested in a career in high-finance. Building a model as a freshman or sophomore will help you stand out from peers.”

For students who struggle during a boot camp, Kieran encourages them to keep practicing with the online videos and to finish the certification, which gives interviewers something concrete to ask about.

“It’s evidence that you actually know this, instead of just saying it yourself. I think that will help your credibility.”