Cal Poly Finance Clubs, Internships, and Transfer Tips from Isabella Liu

Clubs and Networking at Cal Poly

• Involvement scope:

  • FMA and the Cal Poly Investing Club are low-commitment entry points to talk with professionals in finance roles and gain insights into what the jobs involve.

  • For networking, prioritize talking to club officers who have more industry connections and can introduce you to other people. Also, talk to peers in your classes to expand connections.

• Club culture and social dynamics:

  • The clubs aren’t highly social in nature; they’re more about learning from working professionals and assessing fit for a field.

  • There is a stated goal to improve next year by increasing interaction (e.g., dedicating the first $3$ minutes for icebreakers to meet people around you).

• Accessibility and onboarding:

  • Both clubs are open to all majors; you don’t necessarily need to apply—just show up.

  • CPAC (accounting club) may charge a membership fee; other clubs may be free or have different structures.

• Value proposition:

  • The clubs emphasize growth, understanding work-life balance, and what a career in finance looks like beyond the stereotype of being on the grind.

  • There is an awareness that work-life balance is discussed more in accounting than in finance, so consider exploring accounting as well if that balance is important to you.

• Practical networking tips:

  • Use LinkedIn to connect with alumni and professionals in wealth management and other finance areas.

  • In conversations, seek opportunities for resume reviews, interview practice, and potential referrals for internships or roles.

  • Talk to alumni through the university’s alumni mentorship program; be prepared for some wait time when scheduling coffee chats.

Wealth Management, Finance Careers, and Mentorship

• Pathways within finance:

  • Cal Poly has a strong pipeline for corporate finance and investment banking (targeting large tech/consumer firms like Apple).

  • Wealth management tends to require more self-driven networking (research, outreach, and informational interviews via LinkedIn).

• Concrete actions to break into wealth management:

  • Research firms such as Morgan Stanley, Fidelity, JPMorgan, US Bank, etc., focusing on roles like wealth manager or financial advisor.

  • Conduct coffee chats with alumni in those roles to learn about the path and get resume/interview feedback.

  • Build relationships that can lead to referrals for internships (if the fit is good).

• Alumni mentorship and a standout resource:

  • Adam, an alumnus who works at Morgan Stanley as a wealth manager, is part of the alumni mentor program.

  • He’s a transfer and is a highly recommended resource for guidance; you can connect via LinkedIn and set up a coffee chat.

  • Expect scheduling to be ahead of time (about a month in advance) due to busy calendars.

• Real-world example and networking progress:

  • The speaker has had experiences with LinkedIn assignments and mentoring resources and highlights the value of a connected alumni network for practical guidance.

Internship Landscape: Sacramento vs National Opportunities

• Geography and availability:

  • Sacramento has fewer internship opportunities compared to San Francisco, LA, or SoCal hubs; better chances exist in tech hubs or government roles.

  • Local options often include state government roles (hybrid work setups) and companies like SMUD or Golden One.

• Hybrid work considerations:

  • Government/state internships often require year-round availability with hybrid schedules (e.g., 3 days in-office, 2 remote).

  • These constraints may conflict with a student’s academic calendar when on a quarter system.

• Private sector and tech companies:

  • SMUD internships are common; there’s anecdotal evidence of fully remote offers if the recruiter is impressed.

  • Intel has had internship opportunities, but recent layoffs at the Folsom office may affect availability.

• Practical resume tips:

  • If applying to SMUD or other Sacramento internships, use a Sacramento address on your resume to avoid automatic rejections based on location mismatch (Cal Poly address can flag as out-of-area).

  • Use LinkedIn to identify internships and keep an eye on opportunities in broader Northern California regions (e.g., Walnut Creek, San Ramon).

• Alternatives and planning for the conversion to semesters:

  • If you’re transitioning to a semester system, expect a shorter summer and plan to communicate with employers about schedule constraints.

  • June-start internships can conflict with the tail end of the academic year under a quarter system; explain the transition timing to potential employers.

• Personal location considerations:

  • If you’re from Sacramento or willing to relocate, you can target internships beyond Sacramento; e.g., Fidelity in Walnut Creek is a recurring option.

• Additional internship context:

  • Always search LinkedIn for internship postings and alumni connections in wealth management, corporate finance, and related fields to maximize opportunities.

Minor in Law and Society: Transfer Considerations and Recommendations

• Personal path and challenges:

  • The speaker pursued a Law and Society minor that is not directly aligned with their finance major, which created some extra units because many finance courses don’t convert to the minor.

  • For some transfers, a minor chosen outside the most tightly coupled area can require more coursework, so plan ahead.

• Strategic advice:

  • Choose a minor you genuinely enjoy rather than one chosen solely for resume or law-school goals; it’s more sustainable and enjoyable long-term.

  • If your goal is law school, ensure the minor aligns with your intended law pathway and your overall course plan.

• Cosmic warning on course selection:

  • Some finance classes share overlapping content with economics and accounting; for example, certain courses (economics/econ 311) can be challenging and weed out some majors.

• Practical takeaway:

  • For transfers, double-check how courses convert when selecting a minor; prioritize enjoyable, complementary subjects rather than purely strategic choices.

Fall Course Planning and Key Faculty Guidance

• Fall 2024 course ideas and rationale:

  • Stat 252 (statistics) and a history course on colonial Latin America (GE/Upper division) to diversify the schedule.

  • GE/Upper-division humanities course (GEC-related) to satisfy upper-division GE requirements.

  • Bowling to foster social connections on campus.

• Stat 252 instructors and tips:

  • Possible instructors mentioned include Jeffrey and Olga; Jeff is regarded as very capable, and Olga is also strong.

• Econometrics planning:

  • Econometrics is a pivotal prerequisite for more advanced finance classes (e.g., it ties to econometric methods used in finance and economics).

  • Recommended professor: Wilson Kang (noted as one of the easiest Econometrics teachers with multiple-choice questions and available pre-quiz questions). If you can take his course, you can build flashcards and study efficiently.

  • Caution: John James is described as a tough grader with progressively harder quizzes based on earlier performance; many students find his class challenging.

• Corporate Finance foundations and heavy workloads:

  • Fundamentals of Corporate Finance is described as a very heavy course; plan for a light quarter if you take it in winter (or later in your program).

  • Best instructor for corporate finance foundation: Professor Dobson (strong for 342/Corporate Finance foundations; helps build a solid base).

  • Less favorable options: Professor Ding Anderson is said to provide shortcuts that may leave students lacking a solid understanding of fundamentals.

  • Dobson’s course includes a Snapbucks-based participation incentive (students can earn small rewards for participation and questions).

• Scheduling and workload management:

  • The first midterm in corporate finance and the broader finance sequence tends to assume strong foundations in financial accounting; otherwise, it’s very demanding.

  • If taking corporate finance, expect to spend significant study time (e.g., 12 hours per day during peak weeks).

  • Plan ahead to ensure you’ve reviewed financial accounting material before starting finance coursework.

• Strategic advice for transfer students:

  • Be aware that finance concentrations can be challenging for transfers due to expectations around foundational knowledge in accounting and economics.

  • Start preparing over breaks (e.g., winter break) by reviewing financial accounting concepts so you’re not starting from square one for corporate finance.

  • Keep up with real-world market developments; finance topics in class often relate to current events and market conditions.

• Declaring your concentration:

  • You can declare during winter quarter; doing it mid-winter gives you priority for class signup in spring for higher-division courses.

Transition Tips for a Smooth Fall Start as a Transfer

• Living situation and campus integration:

  • For off-campus living, Leverage CalFresh upon arrival to help with groceries; you can use a Cal Poly ID card to access benefits at participating stores.

  • If asked about shared groceries with roommates, saying you don’t share can help maximize monthly benefits.

• Community-building and practical networking:

  • Go door-to-door in dorms for early social integration; even a simple “reverse trick-or-treat” approach can help you introduce yourself and meet neighbors.

  • Network beyond business; collaborating with people in other majors can create broader opportunities (e.g., a future AI startup involving finance and legal work).

• Extracurricular and cross-major engagement:

  • Join WOW Week groups to meet a variety of students beyond your major and to learn about other clubs on campus.

  • The WOW Week schedule includes local excursions and campus exploration (e.g., Morro Bay, sea lions, sea otters, a boat ride, domes, canoeing).

  • Expect long days (a typical WOW Week day can run from around $9:00$ AM to $11:00$ PM).

• Social clubs and networking strategy:

  • Some clubs are more social than others; for example, a car-building club (the “Proof”) can be highly social and good for informal networking.

  • Don’t focus solely on formal networking; attend clubs you’re genuinely interested in and let connections grow naturally.

• WOW Week logistics and food:

  • Food is provided via Cal Poly ID; some events offer free meals.

  • You’ll receive your Cal Poly ID during orientation and use it to access meals and events.

• Long-term networking and opportunities:

  • Stay open to cross-disciplinary networking and opportunities outside the business school (e.g., a future AI startup where you contribute to the finance or legal side).

  • Maintain connections with your WOW group, as it includes students from multiple majors and can be a source of ongoing opportunities.

Additional Practical Takeaways and Personal Reflections

• Overall transfer experience and planning:

  • Finance as a concentration is demanding but rewarding; reassess fit over time and be prepared for a rigorous workload.

  • Prioritize foundational knowledge (financial accounting, economics) before taking advanced finance courses to ease the transition.

• Networking philosophy:

  • Don’t underestimate the power of external networks beyond business; cross-disciplinary connections can lead to unexpected opportunities (e.g., startup involvement, legal work in a finance context).

• Actionable steps to start now:

  • Join the alumni mentor program and reach out to a wealth-management-aligned alumni like Adam to schedule a coffee chat.

  • Build a targeted LinkedIn outreach plan to alumni in wealth management and to professionals in firms of interest.

  • Begin researching internship opportunities in Sacramento and beyond; prepare your resume to reflect relevant coursework and experiences; tailor location on your resume to the opportunity.

  • If you plan to apply to internship programs, consider the location, hybrid work expectations, and the academic calendar (quarter vs semester) to avoid conflicts.

• Final note on tone and expectations:

  • The interviewee emphasized practical advice, personal experience, and candid reflections on courses, mentorship, and campus life. Use these notes as a guide to navigate academics, clubs, and career exploration at Cal Poly, while seeking up-to-date information from professors, career services, and alumni.

Key People and Resources Mentioned

• Adam — Morgan Stanley wealth manager; alumnus; part of alumni mentorship program; transfer background; recommended LinkedIn contact for coffee chats.

• Chris and Mallory — Mentioned in context of LinkedIn assignments and networking tips.

• Professor Bradford Anderson — Recommended for Business 404 as an easy and engaging instructor; uses Canvas/Zoom; tips about exams and format.

• Professor Wilson Kang — Widely recommended for econometrics due to an easier, multiple-choice-friendly format; pre-supplied questions; build flashcards for study.

• Professor John James — Described as a tough econometrics grader with progressively harder quizzes.

• Professor Olga — Mentioned as a strong econometrics instructor.

• Professor Jeffrey — Mentioned as a good statistics instructor (for Stat 252).

• Professor Dobson — Best for Fundamentals of Corporate Finance; provides strong foundational instruction; associated with Snapbucks participation and a solid grading approach.

• Professor Ding Anderson — Described as providing shortcuts that may undermine fundamental understanding; generally recommended to be cautious.

• General internship and firm references — Morgan Stanley, Fidelity, JPMorgan, US Bank, SMUD, Golden One, Intel, and potential opportunities in Walnut Creek (Fidelity), San Francisco, Los Angeles regions.

Quick LaTeX References from This Note

• Icebreaker time dedication in club icebreakers: $3 ext{ minutes}$

• Office vs remote balance in internships: $3 ext{ days in office} ext{, } 2 ext{ days remote}$

• Fall course planning: $12$ units (example study load) and $9:00 ext{ PM} ext{ to } 11:00 ext{ PM}$ WOW Week activity hours

• Example durations and scheduling notes can be tracked with standard calendar planning: $ext{Spring registration priority occurs in mid-winter}$