Welcome
Welcome to the Finance Connection at UC Santa Barbara. We are dedicated to teaching undergraduate students about the finance industry and preparing Gauchos for a successful career on Wall Street. Through our Mentorship Program and numerous events we look to connect students with successful alumni as well as provide you with the necessary tools to succeed in this highly competitive industry. If you are interested in joining the group, click here to learn more about membership.
Our Mission
The Finance Connection aims to bridge the gap between Wall Street and UCSB by serving as the preeminent resource for students and alumni interested in the field of finance. Our organization is built off the ideals of helping and serving one another, and strengthening the bonds of affiliation among Gauchos.
Our primary goals:
Our primary goals:
- Bring awareness and increase students' understanding of careers in the verticals of finance.
- Provide students with the necessary skills to obtain careers on Wall Street.
- Broaden connection between alumni in the field of finance and current students.
A Message to Our Members Regarding COVID-19
To all members of Finance Connection,
2020 seems to have brought about more mayhem and panic than most of us would ideally like. For most of you that are undergoing the very challenging recruiting process, such grave uncertainty is never welcome. In accordance with Chancellor Yang's guidelines, we will be canceling ALL in-person meetings and events scheduled for Spring Quarter 2020. Like most of you, we hoped that we would be able to continue offering guidance to UCSB undergrads through the rest of the 2020 year, and are disappointed that this will not be the case.
Given the current market turmoil and corporate work-from-home policies, I am sure most of you are wondering what this all means for the recruiting process. Below we have outlined several important tips and pointers based on our discussions with industry professionals and others who are currently in-line to start their internships this summer.
Summer Recruiting will Likely be Online / Delayed:
Staying Sane During this Period:
- Nima Karamlou Co-President
2020 seems to have brought about more mayhem and panic than most of us would ideally like. For most of you that are undergoing the very challenging recruiting process, such grave uncertainty is never welcome. In accordance with Chancellor Yang's guidelines, we will be canceling ALL in-person meetings and events scheduled for Spring Quarter 2020. Like most of you, we hoped that we would be able to continue offering guidance to UCSB undergrads through the rest of the 2020 year, and are disappointed that this will not be the case.
Given the current market turmoil and corporate work-from-home policies, I am sure most of you are wondering what this all means for the recruiting process. Below we have outlined several important tips and pointers based on our discussions with industry professionals and others who are currently in-line to start their internships this summer.
Summer Recruiting will Likely be Online / Delayed:
- Many current UCSB students that have superdayed for investment banks have reported doing online interviews. It seems like some banks have indeed continued their processes. For those of you in the process for a bank that will be doing an online interview, we suggest that you practice with a friend via skype / google hangouts to get used to the online format. It is likely that the questions will be the same as they would be in an in-person format.
- Some interviewees / contacts have reported experiencing delayed interview processes. For those of you who are in the application and networking process, we suggest that you continue your efforts. While some banks may delay their process, it never hurts to continue to speak to industry professionals and build connections. Moreover, it is likely that individuals will have more free time given the slowdown in activity from COVID-19. With that being said, we advise those looking to plan in-person networking trips to postpone them to a later date as it is likely that no industry professionals will want to meet with you / will be able to meet with you.
- For those of you who are wondering if FT / internships will be canceled, we have not yet heard any news about such decisions. As of now, both Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have issued statements upholding their current start dates. We advise that you all avoid conjecture and speculation about what could happen and instead focus only on what is in your control.
- For up-to-date information on how the crisis is immediately impacting investment banking internships and recruiting, we suggest you check-out the following links:
- https://www.goldmansachs.com/media-relations/in-the-news/current/03-12-2020-message-to-incoming-hires.html
- https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/covid-19-and-2020-summer
- https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/coffee-chats-and-covid-19
- https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/covid-19-affect-on-sa-2021-recruiting
Staying Sane During this Period:
- We understand that the COVID-19 epidemic represents a dramatic reversal of fortunes for many people. With this being said, we strongly urge you all to reflect on past instances of crises and realise that this too shall pass. It is imperative that we all try and reflect on our current goals and find ways to meet them irrespective of whatever comes our way.
- For those of you that are struggling to focus on finals given the constant stream of negative headlines, we suggest that you all take a moment to tap out of the news cycle and focus on the present. If you know that you have finals coming up in the next couple days, try thinking about how a strong finish to this quarter will help your future employer have another reason to hire you. Letting go of what is out of our control in times like these is a skill that takes practice, and the time to get that practice is now!
- Do not be a stranger and please do reach out to any of our board members with questions / concerns and we will answer them to the best of our ability.
- Nima Karamlou Co-President
Upcoming EventsGeneral Information |
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Weekly Meetings
Every Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 pm in North Hall 1110 (unless otherwise stated)
Technical Workshop
UCSB FC hosts a Technical Workshop every Winter Quarter that aims to help members build understanding of fundamental financial modeling and valuation concepts that are critical for the Wall Street interview process. Members will also be given access to our resources tab that includes case studies, practice models, and interview guides.
Resume Reviews & Mock Interviews
Email the board at fc.ucsb@gmail.com to set up an appointment. Feel free to reach out to any of the board members individually as well.
Every Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 pm in North Hall 1110 (unless otherwise stated)
Technical Workshop
UCSB FC hosts a Technical Workshop every Winter Quarter that aims to help members build understanding of fundamental financial modeling and valuation concepts that are critical for the Wall Street interview process. Members will also be given access to our resources tab that includes case studies, practice models, and interview guides.
Resume Reviews & Mock Interviews
Email the board at fc.ucsb@gmail.com to set up an appointment. Feel free to reach out to any of the board members individually as well.
About Us
Founded by Ron Nussbaum, Shawn Alt, and Stephen Tang, the Finance Connection is the first and only finance organization at UCSB committed to educating students about careers on Wall Street and also connecting them with successful alumni. While they were all interested in pursuing a career in investment banking, the founders soon realized that they were facing an uphill battle as UCSB is not recruited by the major investment banks. They were ultimately successful in landing jobs within the industry, but they did so without the help and guidance of the school and had to rely on other available resources that many other schools had. Realizing this, the founders decided to lay the foundation for a successful group on campus and prepare motivated students for a career in finance.