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. Notes from the participant's academic and career journal at Swiss Finance:
Finance theory was one of the major topics of the day and I was not prepared. I always assumed I’d get into finance. It had been my chosen career path for as long as I can remember, but today I woke up to my passion for it all. The lessons were inspiring. I not only feel that I now understand the workings of finance theory, but I feel like I can touch the inner mechanisms and the way it all comes together, and once I can touch it I can manipulate it and work with it. I’ve never taken a class before that put me in such close contact with the subject. I can’t wait to see what is in store for us tomorrow.
Regards,
Matthew
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.
I learned not only technical materials but I learned how to think like a banker and fit in with this elite community. I also met some truly amazing people and made some lifelong friends. I started an internship at Fox-Pitt Kelton. Next week, I get the opportunity to follow around a floor trader on the New York Stock Exchange. Wall Street has proved to be everything I had dreamt it to be. I feel like I am living a dream. 
As one of the few liberal arts majors with no background in finance, I figured I would struggle and I will admit the course was intimidating at first. But by being so immersed in finance that it surrounded me daily, I couldn’t help but pick it up. We would begin conversations on capital markets in class, but it would spill out into our conversations outside the classroom. Everywhere I went, and everyone I spoke with, the topic was always finance – it was in the very air we breathed and it solidified itself not only in our gaining this knowledge but also in creating these amazing friendships that will last a lifetime. We were all pursuing the same goals and it brought us together and by doing so we used each of our unique backgrounds to help each other see the issues in ways we alone could not have. 
As I entered my senior year at Duke, I was very interested in interviewing for jobs in the finance industry, but as a history and religion major, I really had no background in finance or business. I was searching for a program that would give me the knowledge and skills that I needed to really stand out in the recruiting process. I applied to Swiss Finance because I thought the curriculum was just what I needed to prepare myself for my upcoming job search. The program surpassed all of my expectations. Swiss Finance offers a unique combination of academic and cultural experiences that I know I couldn’t have found anywhere else. The curriculum was intense, and a lot of time was devoted to mastering the material both inside and outside the classroom, but we also had time for fun weekend trips to places like France and Italy. I also found the mentorship aspects of the program to be extremely helpful. Faculty took the time to give me detailed critiques of my performance so that I was really able to learn from my mistakes and my weaknesses, and turn them into strengths. The job search and career guidance that I received from highly experienced industry professionals was invaluable, and it was nice to get advice from people who had previously been in my shoes.
Exposure to finance and economics classes had opened a new realm of career opportunities that I was excited to explore. Investment banking and corporate finance drew me. College classes could only provide so much, but I wasn’t able to satisfy my cravings through classes alone so I decided to take the program at Swiss Finance and I don’t regret my decision for a second. There I discovered the various career paths that were open and available to me. It was also the perfect length for me because as an NCAA Division 1 student-athlete, I have a very short summer. 
My brother had taken this program and mentioned how it was a great experience for him in his professional career. After hearing about it, I began to research about the program and found it to be an exceptional learning experience. I want a career in finance and I wanted to learn more about it. I was aware that the Swiss Finance, School of Business, would better prepare me to succeed in knowing more about businesses around the world. Every job is distinct, and requires different skills out of a person; I knew that this program would help me in becoming a unique individual who possesses qualities and skills that would greatly add value for my future career goals.
