Internships and Careers in Finance

We prepare students for careers in a diverse financial services industry including investment management, trading, corporate finance, commercial and investment banking, insurance and risk management. Chicago is one of the top ten global financial centers in the world, and our ideal location provides students with unparalleled access to this dynamic community through experiential course work and some of the finest internships anywhere.

Career Pathways

Lake Forest College is one of the few liberal arts colleges that offers a major in finance.  Lake Forest College finance majors graduate prepared to compete successfully in today’s job market, because they know both the fundamentals of finance and gain broad exposure to a range of other disciplines.  The combination of breadth and depth helps our students to see the world differently and solve problems more effectively.

While part of a student’s education comes from the curriculum, Lake Forest College also facilitates five career communities called Career Pathways to further expand students’ knowledge and networks. Students use Career Pathways to explore major/career options and to position themselves for the internships that will help them to prepare for productive and rewarding careers after graduation. Students from all majors can participate in the Career Pathways to shape their career goals alongside of their academic interests.

To get an idea for which pathways students might join based upon some common interests, check these out:

• Financial Analyst – Business and Finance
• Health Care Administrator – Health Care and Science
• Advertising Account Executive – Creative Arts
• Public Policy Associate – Law, Policy, and Nonprofit
• Insurance Underwriter – Business and Finance
• Wealth Manager – Business and Finance
• Investment Banker – Business and Finance

Explore the Career Pathways by participating in events, reading profiles of students’ and alumni experiences, and by joining a pathway (or two). Remember to look at the next steps pages to get ideas for immediate ways to prepare yourself for great internships and a productive, rewarding career after graduation. 

Where to graduates go?

The annual post-graduate survey data indicated that 90% of 2015 graduates with a degree in Finance were either employed (85%) or enrolled in graduate school (5%). 

Graduates of 2015 are employed at the following companies:

• Citigroup
• Morgan Stanley
• Merrill Lynch
• Moelis and Company
• Cowen
• Travelers Insurance
• Wintrust and SRR
• UBS
• Northern Trust

Or enrolled in the following graduate programs:

• Loyola Law School
• University of Virginia

In 2014, 100% of graduates reported employment (90%) or advanced study (10%).

Their employers include: Bain & Company, Byron Forest Preserve District, Integrated Merchandising Systems, LLC, MAWI-MICE Axess Worldwide Inc., Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Perfect Search Media, Qingdao MKL Co LTD, Recreation Center of Highland Park, Saale Bulls Halle, Testin, The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, Thien Viet Securities Joint Stock Company, TriCal Inc., United Airlines, United Conveyor Corporation, Wintrust Mortgage & Wintrust Community Banks, Zebra Technologies

Those continuing education proceeded to:

• College of William and Mary
• University of Illinois

Internships

Lake Forest College students have a proven track record of landing some of the most competitive internships at top organizations in the Chicago area and beyond.  Here are a few recent sites:

• Abbott
• Citigroup
• CME Group
• Cowen Group
• FDIC
• Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
• Forester Capital Management
• JP Morgan Chase
• Loop Capital
• Morgan Stanley
• NFL Alumni Association
• RBC Capital Markets
• Renewable Energy Alternatives
• Stout Risius Ross
• Thomson Reuters Corporation
• Toroso Investments
• Travelers Insurance
• Uline
• UBS Financial Services
• See more internships

Helpful Links:

• For-Credit Internship Guidelines and Registration Forms