General questions about the course...
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The details and logistics of the course...
Who should take this course?
In the broadest sense, this course is designed for anyone who wants to learn about corporate finance investment banking and be introduced to the technical and analytical skills required in the industry. The program is especially geared towards people who are seeking jobs within investment banking as well as other areas of finance, including students currently enrolled in undergraduate or MBA programs as well as people looking to switch careers or industries. The course is also helpful to individuals who want to learn more about investment banking to further their current careers or those who work with, negotiate against, or have occasions to hire investment bankers, such as attorneys, accountants, corporate executives and business owners. Read more about the benefits of this class
How will I benefit from this course?
By taking this course, you can benefit by learning about the practical aspects of finance and investment banking, by learning how to value a company and how to construct a financial model, by enhancing your resume and job search, by improving your interview skills and by making you more marketable to investment banks and other financial institutions. We invite you to read more about the benefits of our program
Are there any prerequisites for the course?
No, there are no explicit prerequisites other than possessing a desire to learn about finance and to enhance your career. However, you will likely receive the most benefits from the course if you do have a basic understanding of accounting and finance as well as some experience using Microsoft Excel.
What is investment banking?
Investment banking is the entity that advises and helps raise money for corporations as well as governments and wealthy individuals. For example, investment bankers advise companies on transactions such as a merger or acquisition, an initial public offering (IPO), an offering of debt securities or a leveraged buyout. Learn more about investment banking
What are the advantages and differentiating features of your program?
We believe that there are a number of important features of our course, including the small class size, the quality of our instructors and materials, the individualized attention that you will receive, the specific focus on careers and job search, and our alumni network. Read more about what differentiates us
I've seen that other schools offer 4 or 5 day bootcamps. What are the advantages of the 2-week format?
We will cover a lot of material! From basic finance and accounting all the way through sophisticated valuation and financial modeling. The 2-week format gives you the time between classes to digest the material, to learn through the homework exercises and to have time to think about questions that have arisen in your mind. We find that for most people, the 2-week format maximizes your learning experience.
Will this course be of value to me if I already have an MBA?
You will be surprised how many differences there are between the finance that you learned in business school and how things are actually done in the real world of investment banking and finance. While we also always explain the theory behind the concepts that we teach, this course is focused on the practical aspects of finance. Therefore, we believe that most of what we teach goes beyond, often far beyond, what you might have learned in an MBA program.
If I have already taken finance or accounting classes in school, or if I have a strong accounting or finance background, will this class be of any value to me?
We believe that coming in with a strong background in finance and accounting will make it even easier for you to learn the materials that we teach. Finance and accounting form the basis for the analysis performed in investment banking. This is why we spend significant time on these subjects during the first two class sessions. While this may be review for you, the vast majority of the course is spent on the practical analysis of valuation and financial modeling. In other words, what you will learn in this course will be significantly different from, and will build on the theory that you have learned in college, university or graduate school.
I already have a job as an incoming Analyst or Associate at an investment bank. How will this class help me?
Taking this class will put you one step ahead of your peers. On day one at your new job, you will already be familiar with the concepts of valuation and financial modeling. You will get up to speed quicker, add value to your deal teams faster, and differentiate yourself through the skills you have already learned. In addition, during the last of our eight sessions, we spend time discussing topics such as what makes a good analyst/associate as well as the investment banking lifestyle. All of this will help prepare you for life on the job.
I've noticed that some other programs teach a greater number of topics. How did you decide what topics to teach?
Our goal is to not simply to teach the skills required in investment banking, but for our students to come away with an understanding of these topics. In other words, in order for the course to help you in your interviews or in your job, you need to comprehend what you have learned. With any type of education, there is little point in completing a course not understanding what you have been taught.
That said, we have designed our course to introduce you to the most important topics and the most important skills: valuation and financial modeling. We very strongly believe that to cram more topics into 28 hours of classroom teaching would be a detriment to the course and to your learning experience.
How can I find out more information about the course?
If you have any questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us through our website, via email or by phone at 212-696-2510.