Ryan arrived at Lehigh University with a strong interest in financial markets but an open mind about where that interest might lead. As a sophomore majoring in finance, he approached recruiting determined to explore the field thoroughly before committing to a specific path.

“I came into it with really an open mind, not really knowing exactly what I wanted to do,” Ryan explains. “I ended up speaking with as many people as I could in different firms and sectors, and I got a good sense of investment banking and really wanted to pursue a career in it.”

That exploration paid off. After navigating the competitive recruiting process, Ryan secured an offer to join Mizuho as a 2027 Investment Banking Summer Analyst.

Student Success Story: Building Technical Skills With Adventis

Ryan’s preparation for recruiting began earlier than many students. During the summer after his freshman year, he enrolled in the Adventis Financial Modeling Certification® Program to strengthen his technical foundation.

“Through my freshman summer, not really knowing much about finance in general, I thought Adventis seemed like a great learning opportunity,” Ryan says. “I had some free time in the summer, so I thought there was no better way to use it than learning through a course like Adventis.”

For Ryan, the FMC® Program filled an important gap. Like many students entering finance for the first time, he began with limited technical knowledge. The program helped him quickly build confidence in financial modeling and core accounting concepts.

“At first, coming into it not knowing much technically at all, it really helped with my technical skills.”

What stood out most to Ryan was the program’s practical, visual approach to learning.

“What really stood out was the visualization that Adventis has,” he explains. “When working through financial statements or valuation questions, I was able to visualize what I did in Adventis on the computer. I’m a visual learner, so that really helped me remember the concepts.”

Turning Technical Knowledge Into Interview Success

Ryan consistently highlighted the Adventis experience throughout the recruiting process. When interviewers asked about his background, the program became a key talking point that demonstrated both preparation and technical capability.

“In the ‘tell me about yourself’ question, I would always mention that I took Adventis,” Ryan says. “A financial modeling course is really important when going into investment banking.”

The certification also gave Ryan concrete examples to discuss during networking calls and interviews.

“Sometimes people would ask what it was like and what I learned,” he explains. “I always came prepared with answers about how it helped and why I did it.”

By combining technical preparation with thoughtful networking, Ryan was able to stand out during a competitive recruiting cycle.

Advice for Students Pursuing Investment Banking

Looking back, Ryan believes the most important step students can take is starting early and staying curious about the many paths within finance.

“I would definitely say start as soon as possible,” he says. “Adventis is a great course because it’s so condensed. If you work on it a couple hours a week for a month or two, you can finish it and learn a huge amount.”

The impact of the program surprised him.

“Coming into it, I knew pretty much nothing,” Ryan reflects. “At the end I felt like I was an expert in some of these things.”