The structure of the course is what intrigued me the most. I strongly believe, that the intensive nature of the course, and the fact that it does not only focus on one, but several modules of finance can lead to a multifaceted approach to financial cases and a more advanced, practical and consistent learning. Additionally, I was impressed by the fact that the program is taught by professionals that can provide an in-class exposure to real-life financial situations rather than plain theoretical perspective. I was looking forward to understanding the applicability of financial education upon real life scenarios.Furthermore, the institution’s high credibility, excellent alumni reviews and faculty of superb quality, not only place the qualification provided by the academy at a position that is attractive and recognizable by employers, but also make it a sound investment in return of a valuable training. Moreover, as an individual that holds a high interest in traveling and possess an international background, I consider the multicultural environment that exists within the Swiss Finance Academy as an advantage to every attendee due to the valuable international networking and contact exchange available, the benefit of earning knowledge from other cultures, and generally the chance to gain a great social experience and cultural insight alongside the provided academic training.After the Swiss Finance experience, I can assure you that my thoughts about finance and investment banking took a more realistic turn. In the first place, following an intense training on finance, both in theory and practice, I familiarized with several real life cases and methods in regard to which I understood how my financial knowledge was relevant and applicable. My thoughts were shaped around the fact that markets are imperfect and unexpected situations will affect and fluctuate planned routes and financial strategies on a constant basis. Therefore as the accuracy of many valuation methods and financial theories can be brought to question; flexibility, questionability, and detail in alternative strategies are in my opinion something essential. Furthermore Swiss Finance helped me see beyond the “ideal image” I used to hold about a life in investment banking. Having placed hours and work in place that are similar to the ones of an investment-banking analyst, I lived an experience that allowed me to sufficiently witness the level of physical and psychological pressure, focus, and skills required by such a profession. To add accredited professionals that were teaching or visiting at the Swiss Finance presented another face of investment banking, which exhibited the roles and responsibilities of the profession and of the investment banking corporations in various fields and events that I did not anticipate before. As a result my thoughts matured, forming a personal opinion and stimulating a personal interest beyond the mainstream perception that is held about investment banking.
The best part of Swiss Finance was undoubtedly the learning experience. The fact that we did not for a minute felt as idle students, but on the contrary we were treated and acted as “on-the-scenario” players, was priceless. Every day was a new mission. There were new challenges, new experiences, and an extremely steep level of the learning curve. We were usually allocated in teams, and had to prepare a financial model, a proposal, a negotiation and so forth. Although we worked until the morning hours and on a daily basis, our tasks were so interesting that one would often witness discussions continuing outside the classroom, extra independent research taking place, and a constant exchange of ideas that overwhelmed the atmosphere; as each of us represented a different professional, ethnical and cultural background and therefore contributed a unique piece of knowledge or perspective when dealing with an inquiry. Generally there was a climate of healthy educational competition among ambitious minds, and a truly inspiring thirst for knowledge.
It isn't often that you get a chance to participate in a program that has such an impact on your career opportunities, while at the same time offering an amazing worldwide network of friends. Some people might get the impression that SFA is all work and no play, but that really isn't the case. It is important to understand that the people who come to this program really want to learn all that they can about the finance and business industries; they want to take advantage of every opportunity that the program has to offer. For this reason, people do work really hard. At the same time, SFA faculty and staff make sure that we are able to take advantage of the recreational and cultural activities that the program location has to offer. For my class, this included trips to France and Italy, hiking in the Swiss Alps and BBQs set against the backdrop of the beautiful mountains. SFA stresses the value of not only the important lessons that we are learning inside the classroom, but also the value of the network that we are developing with our classmates and other SFA alumni. The SFA program was an amazing opportunity for growth on several levels - personally, educationally and professionally. 
I would like to thank you for the great Investment Banking experience in Switzerland. The experience really enhanced my knowledge and skills i.e. modeling in excel, and the discussions about the markets.
and capital markets fundamentals but, equally important, prompted us to think about what we really want to do in our lives. The program was a career guide as much as it was motivation to pursue our goals with absolute persistence. Besides that we met people with so many different backgrounds and characters that it broadened everyone’s horizon. I now look at many thinks from a much broader perspective, which will sooner or later pay off and increase the quality of my life remarkably. Your program leads to personal, financial, mental and spiritual growth of the people who actively attend. That makes it a life-time experience. 
They are virtues that are pertinent not only to practical fields, but also to one’s day-to-day living and thought process as a citizen and a leader. Furthermore, given that one of my career objectives is to be responsible for a firm’s financial position through valuation, forecasting, and risk assessment, I believed that Swiss Finance would give me the tools that I need to succeed. Moreover, to reach my goal of being an integral part of an investment banking division, Swiss Finance’ s emphasis on fusing theory with real world application would further strengthen my comprehension. 
to focus my interests and to suggest a path of study that would facilitate my ambitions. When looking into Swiss Finance, I contacted my boss at the time and after discussing the program with a Swiss Finance alumnus also employed at the firm, I decided to apply and attend. 
I also gained valuable interview skills. So now not only do I know what I want to do with my life, but have the skills necessary to make it happen. It is easy to dream about making something happen, but at Swiss Finance I developed the skills to make it happen, not to wait for the opportunities to present themselves to make but to make my own opportunities and then take advantage. 
Since I was an international student living in a culturally and intellectually diverse environment at college, I believed that I would benefit tremendously from the opportunity of exploring the world of finance in Swiss Finance’s training program, which is known for being very international. 
On the way to the airport on Saturday, I was very tired and sad ... I just wanted to say it was a great time for me being in SFA. It was only a month, but I met many nice and charm people, and it was really hard to leave behind them. Even though the course was a little challenge for me, I feel that I learned a lot of things about finance more than the other finance classes that I took before. I will definitely recommend this program to other people.
so I was able to take my Finance knowledge learned at university and put it to practical use at Swis Finance. The amount of financial knowledge covered in just a few weeks dramatically expanded my skills and I feel gave me an edge when entering the job market. The program was intensive in every aspect, the technical skills taught were advanced and certainly lived up to the training that is received at the Bulge Bracket Investment Banks. The program helped me focus on my career objectives. It also made the remaining finance courses I took in university much easier. During the program I acquired many skills including like multiple valuation methodologies and M&A strategy, as well as practice using them, which undergraduates do not often encounter. Thus, I could relate the coursework I completed upon return to school to the larger picture. 
I hope with the foundation of investment learned at the Swiss Finance Academy along with my future aspirations, I will be able to attain that goal. I knew that if I could gain this initial exposure to the fields of investments and business from a great school like the Swiss Finance that it would fuel my drive towards a top M.B.A program and lead me one step closer to my goal. 
gave me a good opportunity to verify that a future environment of this general category would give me a sense of personal gratification. The interaction with portfolio managers during actual business was an experience which helped me develop my financial market knowledge. It was an experience I fully enjoyed. I also noted how the few courses I had attended at college already were a significant help in appreciating the internship. Even though it was my first serious internship, I didn’t feel any strangeness, but contrarily I felt like I belonged in that environment. As a consequence of the above, I inferred that would I feel at home in a business environment and would therefore do well to commit myself in a domain of endeavor related to structured economic and financial activities. 
After hearing of the program’s rigorous curriculum and schedule, I was very intrigued. I evaluated their website to see for myself, and the range of topics covered seemed like the program would provide an appropriate forum to advance my interests. 
because the program's curriculum is very rich and covers almost all academic aspects of investment banking as well as practical industry elements. The overall aim of the program is provide the participants with the necessary skills to excel in Investment banking, international capital markets, valuation, M & A's, LBO's, Venture capital, Private equity, Hedge Funds, Asset Management, Entrepreneurship. My plan to attend the program was to enable me consolidate my investment banking career by acquiring additional skills and sharpening my current skills in corporate finance, valuations, sales and trading, wealth management and entrepreneurship as well as networking by way of meeting other seasoned industry professionals from around the world. 
I have a strong preference and interest in sales and trading, but have a general passion for all areas of investment banking business. To reach this goal, outstanding academic performance must be retained. I also believe it is crucial for me to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the financial markets. 
Despite interning while being a full-time student, I felt that I was not learning enough about the financial field as I would have liked. I wanted to explore the business and challenge my capabilities with the intense program Swiss Finance offers. 
However, a job in investment banking and international finance remained as a primary career choice, largely due to my interest in its significance upon macroeconomics. I wanted to explore the dynamics of the interactions between foreign markets and their impact on everyday life. I felt that Swiss Finance could help me figure out which aspects of business- whether investment banking or something more entrepreneurial - suited me best. With the help of this program, I was able to explore my interests in international finance, while improving my career preparation using the Academy’s career assistance. Not only does the Swiss Finance offer a valuable source of instruction, its location in Switzerland allows for an invaluable opportunity to learn international finance. Because the program is located in Europe, and especially with the heritage of the unique Swiss banking system, it was an ideal location. Under the guidance of experienced professionals, I became better equipped to continue to explore finance with greater detail and comprehension than most pre-professional training programs. By taking this program, I had hoped to broaden my career options and strengthen my foundations in finance while taking part in a unique educational experience, I definitely got this. Swiss Finance was a challenge. There were times I couldn’t believe what I was doing or how I was keeping up with all the material. That said, I am so glad I did the program. As difficult as it was, I still loved it. This knowledge really confirmed for me the direction I want to head. Getting a taste of investment banking, trading, and entrepreneurship motivated me to focus my efforts once I returned to school. 
Pursuing a career in this field demands keen intellectual instincts, a desire to work hard, and dedication to continually learn more and stay aware of world events. In order to continue learning about this fascinating industry, I attended Swiss Finance. 
It is a really great intensive program. The program brings people from all over the world who want to learn about finance. They come with different perspectives but with a common interest. You can’t beat it for networking. My ‘little black book’ is filled with people who are bright, ambitious and ready to take over the world of finance. These are exactly the people I want to and need to know. 
Though I majored in Economics, I was able to study philosophy, psychology, and fine arts. While this undergraduate experience helped to shape me into a well-rounded person, my aspiration was to secure a job in the financial services arena, and for this, I felt that a specialized training program like Swiss Finance was a smart choice. I decided to attend Swiss Finance because it covered so many aspects of financial services, and judging by the amount of hours of instruction, it seemed to cover everything thoroughly. 
and I just wanted to say thank you for teaching us about investment banking and asset management. The lessons I have learned from you regarding office composure as well as interview skills have been invaluable to me, and I will take them with me to the recruiting sessions this Fall and to my job in the future. 
and not having had direct practical experience in the arena of finance, I was seeking training at the Swiss Finance Academy to help me develop and fine tune practical finance skills that would complement my undergraduate education. It also has an extremely international student body, which fit well with my desire for diversity. 
The Swiss Finance program appeared to be a productive way to dramatically improve my investment banking skills, and objective aligned with my professional aspirations. 
I like the way the course is organized, step by step and little by little, the parallel between accounting world and I-banking world. Very smooth. I like the material covered, it's just awesome. 
I was confident that a rigorous course like this, combined with my university study would provide me with all the tools that one requires to be a successful investment banker. 
The more I read about the program, the more I became interested in it. The program quickly became my number one choice for the summer. I have a good deal of knowledge about many aspects of business, but I wanted to enhance my finance knowledge. I like problem-oriented learning and case studies, which are important aspects of the Swiss Finance teaching method. I also liked the intensive pace, and that it focuses on topics of finance, and not (only) from the academic point of view. Finally, the program seemed like an ideal setting to meet peers and potential co-workers. 
That and the confidence to walk into a room prepared and certain that I am going to impress my audience. 
I became determined to learn the language of finance, and its complex grammar. Though I had completed my MBA, it was apparent to me that I needed further education to pursue my dream job. To land a job at top investment banks, one must be proficient in all areas of finance. At Swiss Finance I loved working on case studies and team presentations. Being compelled to use all the information we had just learned to complete a practical task was excellent practice for work, and a wonderful way to learn the material. I also enjoyed the opportunities to network with current and former investment bank executives. 
In order to fully understand Wall Street, the financial City of London and the Swiss Banking industry and to reach my long-term goal in succeeding in the rough and competitive world of investment banking, I believed that I need to attend a program such as the one offered by Swiss Finance. It filled in the gaps and uncertainties that existed in my knowledge. More than any other program, Swiss Finance was able to deliver this. What attracted me the most is the program’s focus on applied skills, rather than on purely theoretical learning. Swiss Finance also gave me a perfect opportunity to network with investment bankers, who have already achieved my dream career, as well as to build relationships with some of the future business leaders. 
My business is poised to greatly expand, and I plan to be actively involved in the financing process. I knew that taking Swiss Finance’s summer program would enable me to gain an indepth financial perspective of market opportunities and the essential financial know-how appropriate for growth strategy. Given that I did not have experience working in the finance industry, Swiss Finance’s curriculum, deal simulations, case studies, and team projects will be transformational in enabling me to understand the sophisticated modeling tools that evaluate the company’s financial health and to analyze my business from an investment banker’s perspective. Ultimately, I needed to understand the language and workings of finance, and I believed that Swiss Finance would empower me to do so. 
I was especially attracted by the curriculum of the program, which would improve my understanding of both the hedge fund and corporate finance sectors, therefore offering me a greater perspective on capital markets and business strategy. Additionally, I knew that Swiss Finance would offer me knowledge about all the aspects of banking and therefore, it would help me in my career choice. 
I had not heard of any others with the same reputation. I was interested in applying to the program so I would be best prepared for future internships and job trainings, both of which are competitive to secure in New York. I am an extremely hard working, dedicated, and goal oriented person, and I was raised to value education. Throughout my high school and college careers I consistently challenged myself with the most difficult classes available, as I enjoy being in an academically rigorous environment. I chose to attend the Stern School of business at NYU because we live in a global business world and New York is one of the greatest financial centers; the opportunities and exposure that my undergraduate experience at Stern provided were outstanding. Business has always intrigued me, and while I knew that I was benefiting from a rigorous business program, I knew that I had so much more to learn regarding career options. My interest in the Swiss Finance program was to gain an education in finance that would make me a desirable commodity in the job market by preparing me with practical skills and banking knowledge that I had not encountered in my classes. Analyzing case studies, building models, and simulating financial situations helped me understand day to day financial operations, career opportunities, and provided a solid understanding of the specific jobs I will be interviewing for in the future. I love mathematics and finance, while I also enjoy research and analysis. I like to think through situations and consider outcomes thoroughly. I therefore see myself in the fields of private equity, an M&A division of a firm, or as an analyst. My strong interest in the curriculum and opportunities at Swiss Finance helped me to apply my knowledge in finance and accounting to such jobs and to be able to answer any question an interviewer asks me however technical it may be. 
Above all else, my academic ambition has been to apply my knowledge of economics to the corporate world. Though it is always challenging to connect theory with real-life situations, I was intrigued by the challenge to try. Swiss Finance brought me so much closer to mastering this challenge. It takes a lot of courage to face a big change, like attending school in a foreign country, but the amount of knowledge you gain by going through it, pays off. This principle applies to the way in which I chose my economics major at Penn State, and my decision to attend the Swiss Finance program. My economics major has allowed me to structure my logical processes and critical thinking which are essential qualities in today’s business world. Attending Swiss Finance was again a big change, but the amount I learned was the best reward. Being associated with the Swiss Finance reputation is a good thing. It shows my commitment to being as educated as possible in the field of my interest. An additional motivation for me to attend is my future plans. In a few years I would like to have my own mutual fund, focused on trading primarily international securities. Because Swiss Finance has a very international outlook, it seemed like good preparation for my future. 
Having entered university at the tender age of sixteen, it was very difficult to grasp the gravity of the situation. It was difficult to realize that university was the last stepping stone to entering the real world. As I transitioned from one level to the other, it was then that I realized I had to make the best of my four years at university. Having never had an actual job, it is difficult to say what position I want to occupy. Yet, I knew where I wanted to start; by joining the Tomorrows Regulatory Leaders program. The Swiss Finance became my next step, the step that held a light up so I could better see all the future steps. My experiences here brought the details of a career in finance into focus. It is going to be a long walk to success; but I believe I can make it. 
Though the Bachelor of Commerce program at McGill has exposed me to many aspects of the business world such as marketing, accounting, and economics, investment banking has always interested me the most. I enjoy working with large accounts, and learning about large funds, corporations, as well as the banking system and financial institutions. I believed that the Swiss Finance Academy would help me to gain experience, meet some new people, gain some connections in the finance industry, as well as expose me to a part of the world that I had never seen before. All this, in turn would help me strive towards my career aspirations and goals. 
I assessed that the opportunity would certainly broaden my horizons and mark an important chapter in this significant phase of my life. 
I knew early on that I wanted to pursue a career in finance. Specifically, I have wanted to work with the capital markets. I have found that I am good with the quantitative side of financial analysis. I also find the capital markets extremely interesting. Analogous to the inner workings of a clock, the financial markets are dependent on so many individual components. For my career aspirations, I had hoped to play a role that would shape and change the markets.
The program’s intensity is what appealed to me. In college, I majored in Economics and Chinese, but lacked specific finance training. After securing an internship with ICBC Credit Suisse in Beijing for the summer, I began to look for a program that would give me an adequate, challenging introduction to Investment Banking: thus, I discovered the Swiss Finance Academy. The program’s broad curriculum was covered because of the rapid pace at which we moved through modules. I believe that the Swiss Finance program is good for people who want to get a block of information in one, condensed period. It provided at steady foundation for me to continue building upon with work and study. 
Swiss Finance was recommended to me by an economics professor. Throughout college I had a strong interest in entrepreneurship and became actively involvement in entrepreneurship and consulting groups. The program looked interesting because it combined strong training in investment banking and trading with entrepreneurship. I had not seen another program which covered such range of topics, and I viewed it as a good opportunity to get very practical career preparation after undergraduate study. 
The classes that I took at Swiss Finance Academy were totally different from anything that I experienced at university, even though I had taken courses in finance, business, economics and accounting. Unlike my classroom experience at university, the SFA experience was really lifelike; that is, rather than feeling like I was learning abstract, theoretical concepts, I really felt like I was both learning and practicing concepts that would actually be useful on the job. Much of our learning at SFA was done through real, ongoing debates with industry professionals. These executives provided us with high quality information and I was able to learn a lot from their experiences. I don't think that I would have gained such in-depth insights into the industry had it not been for the extensive experience that the SFA faculty brought to the table. 
At the beginning of the program I did not know much about finance but now I feel as though I can have an intelligent conversation on certain topics within the field. I am also now a little media savvy. Every morning I commute forty minutes to work and instead of sleeping (which I did pre-Swiss Finance program), I am connected to finance media from my phone. Also, throughout the day I log on to the site to monitor the Dow as it goes up and down according to news releases. 
there were several factors which ultimately influenced my decision to attend. The first factor was that I wanted a rigorous study abroad program. In addition to experiencing the culture of a foreign country, I wanted to material that I couldn’t get at home. Swiss Finance definitely met these expectations. Being mentored by executives in the field I am interested in was the chance of a lifetime. Additionally, at the time I was making my decision to attend, I had interest in a career in investment banking broadly. I felt particular interest in investments and the compilation of effective portfolios. The program’s inclusion of curriculum pertaining to wealth management, investment banking, and investing and trading was an excellent combination. By the end of the program, I had a substantially more clear idea of where in the financial services world I saw myself working and enjoying. 
Having lived and experienced business culture in multiple countries, I appreciated the diverse study body as well as the instructors’ international business experience. Prior to attending Swiss Finance, I was well-aware of the importance of understanding local culture and traditions in order to facilitate deals. At Swiss Finance I added an understanding of investment banking culture. As I learned, banking culture is an entity unto itself and the values and skills one needs to flourish in this environment are rather specific. Had I not been taught this during the program, it would have taken a long time to develop the cultural acumen. Achieving success in the world of international finance does not just require book-smarts; it is crucial to grasp the practical aspects of society. As one of my long-term commitments, I have been continually visiting disadvantaged Chinese villages, to see for myself the extent of poverty and extreme hardship. I empathized with the underprivileged students and their living conditions, and thus raised $2000 from relatives and friends to establish several scholarships in a hillside school. I liked how the curriculum valued on-the-ground travel, like my experiences, as instructive for being a successful investor. 
Through the course of my MBA studies, I was exposed to many aspects of business and management. What strongly appealed with me however, were classes such as Equity and Capital Markets, Portfolio Management, and Financial Planning and Analysis. This knowledge led me to the decision to pursue a career in investment banking. The Swiss Finance curriculum was closely aligned with everything I was eager to learn more about. 
Memorable! I made friends with so many fascinating people here. I have a very international background, so I loved meeting people from all over the world who have an interest in the same thing. Even though we all had different levels of experience with finance, and very different backgrounds, we all came together on the topic at hand: learning how to be great investment bankers. I am passionate about projects that promote global solidarity and goodwill. I think that programs like this which bring people together around a common interest can contribute to these goals. The experience itself was intense but worthwhile! You can not imagine how much you learn until you experience it and then look back! How has Swiss Finance equipped you with the skills to find a job in the industry of your choice? Tremendously! My biggest passion in finance lies in the mortgage industry, my experience at Swiss Finance has helped me land a job with Fannie Mae,the largest mortgage lender in the US. 
As a Mathematical Sciences major, I developed skills which would allow me to pursue a variety of careers. Yet, while my skills were widely applicable, I lacked industry-specific knowledge of how they would be applied. Swiss Finance both gave me skills and training for a specific sector, and helped me assess if this was the career path I wanted to pursue. I also feel that learning how to think about global markets and finance are skill sets that are an asset for almost any industry. The program was very intensive, we had long hours of classes and assignments. However, the atmosphere was one of excitement and learning, and looking back I could see that I would never have learned as much as I did if not for the schedule. The schedule was also a good test to see how we fared in such an environment, which had similar hours to investment banks. In addition, the coursework was balanced by the amazing scenery surrounding us and the weekend trips, which were a great way to take a break and enjoy Europe. 
that is one way the program helped me, it made it clear to me that I did indeed want to pursue a career in finance. Finance seems to be such a glamorous career from the outside and although it can be fun and it can be prestigious, it is certainly not all play, and it is difficult to imagine that unless you are in the midst of it. If you can survive the course at Swiss Finance then not only can you survive a career in the finance industry, but you will know exactly what you are getting yourself into. The experience you gain at Swiss Finance can help you make an informed decision about a career in investment banking. Nothing can provide more confidence than knowing you are prepared, and this program gives you that. Notes from the participant's academic and career journal at Swiss Finance: Everyone here is absolutely brilliant. I learned so much here on my first day that I was absolutely blown away. First, the lessons themselves are so in depth and based on the realities of the financial industry that I can’t think of any other class that could teach me so much. But then we take those lessons and discuss them outside of class, going over and analyzing every detail. The opportunity to be taught by the professions who are at the top of their game and then discuss those lessons with super bright people is the best of both worlds and I just feel like this was the best decision I could have made to study here. 
The people teaching were approachable and had come from interesting backgrounds. The mix of culture in the class was great. I liked how classes were at times more conversation and less theory oriented – I found it made it easier for me to learn. Our lessons in trading were not only theory, they were lessons in practice as well. I also like the fact that we are all together in one lecture hall. With all the questions, answers and side dicussions, I felt I got much more out of it than if we were all split up being lectured to. The curriculum was also very broad and it covered many aspects of investment banking. I think Swiss Finance has shown me parts of the finance world I would not have understood on my own. Also, I now know what I want from a career. 
If you want to simply know the facts of finance, you should read one of the countless books written on the subject, but if you want to get into the world, you should study at Swiss Finance. The insights I gained here, not only the facts and terminology, but getting to know what the people who work in Wall Street are like and also what those who want to work in Wall Street are like. What kind of personality does it take to work hard till four in the morning and be invigorated by doing so? I discovered I have so much in common with these people, that at heart I am one of them. My experiences here have been quite amazing. 
and I absolutely attribute this opportunity to what I took home from Switzerland this summer. Although I was used to working hard as a Mathematics major and Business Administration minor at the University of Florida,it was a different, more theoretical kind of work than the curriculum and intensity at Swiss Finance. Addittionally, despite my background, I was unsure which field of finance I wanted to pursue. I didn’t feel equipped to start a career in the business field with my BS. Swiss Finance provided the hands-on experience I needed in order to begin my career. I know that I have the potential to be an extraordinary leader because I love to make the whole team happy and I have a fast-learning, positive personality. Here I gained the Swiss Finance Academy Advantage and I have already seen it work for me. Notes from the participant's academic and career journal at Swiss Finance: Today I learned of the effects that volatility has on the market, capitulation, LBO's in depth-MBOs, ratios (interest coverage, etc), acquisition currency, exit multiples, and CAGR. I also learned of 2-tier offers, realized compound yields, and risk and return. Even with my minor in Business Administration, there was so much that was new to me today.
