An Open Letter From A Recruiter:
"Dear Swiss Finance School:
Given the rigor of your program, I am interested in learning if you have any thoughts on how our firm could benefit from looking at some of your students as potential hires. One of our current initiatives is to focus on new and innovative ways of identifying qualified and motivated students.
Best wishes,
Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
(Father of Elizabeth B., summer class 2006)
Swiss Finance Academy - Intensive Program for Undergraduates
Our
class is selected to be highly diverse. Although
the median age is in the early twenties, our program
participants range from 19 year old mature college
freshmen, to finance MBAs. We typically have many
freshmen (first year in university) and sophomores
(second year in university) students in our programs,
although we do not encourage attendance if they
were not prepared for a significant challenge.
At the same time, we believe that individuals
who attend our programs at a younger age are at
a significant competitive advantage in relation
to their peers, because they can learn at an early
stage valuable strategies to position themselves
strongly for a long term career success in investment
banking, consulting and entrepreneurship.
Applicants, irrespective of their age, should know that our programs are very rigorous. On many days, classes can be held for six to nine hours. Additionally, in the evenings, students study in groups and independently for several hours. There are assigned textbook readings and case studies selected for richness and practical relevance to the topic, and for making the discussion as approachable as possible to the audience. Formal presentations similar to those delivered by investment bankers before their clients during "beauty contests", as well as negotiations that relate to price and structure of a deal, form an integral part of a highly dynamic learning experience. Wall Street interview training and resume review sessions are held throughout the program, in the form of group exercises. These are conducted by finance professionals.
Why Swiss Finance?
Trends in technology, globalization, outsourcing and banking consolidation are putting unprecendented demands on college graduates and MBAs. As the competition for jobs amongst recent graduates as well as experienced professionals becomes increasingly steep, one needs more than good grades from a prestegious university to successfully compete for top-notch jobs in any industry, and particularly in investment banking, consulting and business management. While many students emerge from college with a rich, theoretical knowledge of many subjects, they often lack the applied, practical knowledge and skills that are essential for not only finding a great job, but also to securing advancement opportunities as they progress along their chosen career paths. Employers now demand practical skills from new hires, because they can afford to. Swiss Finance Academy offers a rigorous curriculum designed to launch your daughter or son into a successful career. Unlike other university programs with business and finance curricula, our programs are taught by executives, entrepreneurs and graduate business school professors with extensive industry as well as teaching experience. They have been in the “trenches” of the business and Wall Street world, and can offer your son or daughter the kind of applied, practical knowledge, insights and skills that they need to succeed in the real world. The perspective they will receive at Swiss Finance goes beyond the theoretical knowledge and deeply into the applied career building skills. Our students learn a framework for success as they emerge from our rigorous programs with vital, marketable business skills which distinguish graduates of our programs from other job-seekers. They will also be equipped with a global network of lifelong friends – the business executives, leaders, investment bankers and entrepreneurs of not only today but also tomorrow. If your school's students are looking for a challenging yet rewarding experience that will give them the capacity to excel in any career, we encourage you to seriously consider Swiss Finance Academy. We, along with the parents and schools that send their students here, firmly believe that an investment in our program is a wise investment in student success. |
Student Life
Student Diversity
One of the most exciting aspects of Swiss Finance is its cultural, academic, and professional diversity. With students coming from well over 70 universities in 35 countries and a wide range of academic majors at both undergraduate and graduate levels, we are truly international and diverse. In each training program, we bring together a class of dynamic leaders in the midst of launching successful careers on Wall Street, in the City of London, and around the world.
