Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I get added to the AIM/IAIM program's newsletter email distribution list?
- What is unique about the AIM program?
- What is IAIM?
- How relevant will what I learn in AIM/IAIM be to the real investment world?
- What companies have provided internships or hired students enrolled in the AIM program?
- What opportunities are there for IAIM students?
- How do employers benefit?
- How can I juggle working on my degree, interning at an investment firm, spending time with my friends, studying for the CFA exam, and still meet the obligations of the AIM/IAIM program?
- Is the IAIM program challenging?
- For what types of jobs does the AIM/IAIM program prepare me?
- What is the average starting salary for graduates of the AIM/IAIM program?
- How do I know if the AIM/IAIM program is right for me?
- Who is eligible for admission to the AIM program?
- What about admission to the IAIM program?
- How do I access application materials or more information?
- How many people apply to the AIM program each year? How many are accepted?
- How many students will be accepted in the IAIM program?
- When can I apply for admission to the AIM program?
- What are the AIM program admission requirements?
- Are there additional requirements for admission into the IAIM program?
- Who should I use as references in the application?
- What part of the application is weighted most heavily?
- What if I am not admitted to the AIM/IAIM program?
- What can I do in high school or my freshman and sophomore years in college to prepare for the AIM program?
- What can I do to prepare for the IAIM program?
(Please note: All comments about AIM also apply to the International AIM program (IAIM), if applicable, the IAIM specific comments are in blue.
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1. How do I get added to the AIM/IAIM program's newsletter email distribution list?
Please email AIM Program Director at david.krause@marquette.edu. Dr. Krause would be happy to add you to the monthly AIM newsletter distribution list.
2. What is unique about the AIM program?
Marquette‘s AIM program is one of the nation’s only undergraduate programs in applied investment management. The AIM program allows a select group of finance majors to get hands-on academic and security analysis experience, including summer internships and an opportunity to actively manage equity and fixed-income portfolios throughout their senior year. Students study the core body of knowledge covered in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) exam – preparing them to take the CFA Level I exam upon graduation – and begin a career in the money management industry.
There are a number of advantages to the AIM program. One important difference is the close interaction with both the faculty and fellow students. Students remain with one group of classmates throughout the program, providing continuity and invaluable mutual support. The AIM student alumni network is active – helping current AIM students with career planning and advice.
Another unique advantage of the AIM program is the emphasis on investment ethics – which combines Marquette’s Jesuit-based values with modern business practices. Our emphasis on ethics enables AIM students to enrich their educational experience with practical ‘real world’ examples and cases so that they are better able to face the challenging issues encountered in today’s global investment world. With an emphasis on the undergraduate student, the AIM program combines textbook learning with real-world experiences, producing a challenging, stimulating learning environment. It is one of the top programs of its kind in the nation.
3. What is IAIM?
IAIM is Marquette University’s International Applied Investment Management program. This unique program is designed for double majors in International Business (IB) and Finance or IB and Accounting. The focus of IAIM is on global financial analysis and international fund management. IAIM students will be enrolled in many of the same classes as the AIM students; however, they will be responsible for managing an international equities fund. Furthermore, the IAIM summer internship will most likely be tied to international investment and financial analysis, in either the U.S. or abroad.
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4. How relevant will what I learn in AIM/IAIM be to the real investment world?
As the name implies, AIM/IAIM is an applied program. The faculties who teach in AIM/IAIM program have solid academic track records and many have extensive real world experience. They know both investment theory and business practice. One of the major benefits of the AIM/IAIM program is that students are also able to learn in their internships and in the classroom from investment professionals that also help link theory to application.
5. What companies have provided internships or hired students enrolled in the AIM program?
The College of Business Administration is proud of its ongoing partnership with area and national investment firms. To date, many of the leading investment companies, large and small, have sponsored internships and/or hired graduates of the AIM program. Take a look at a partial listing of the companies that have been involved with AIM go to: internships and careers.
6. What opportunities are there for IAIM students?
Although the IAIM program was not formally announced until Spring 2007 and the first class of IAIM students will be admitted in Fall 2007, we have had two AIM students who are also IB majors admitted into the program. Both of these students have had internships in the international fields, one in the U.S. and one in Japan. With the growth of globalization the likely opportunities for IAIM students to intern and work abroad should continue to expand in the future.
The unprecedented growth in the number of financial centers worldwide and the multiple listings of numerous global enterprises have created a great area of opportunity for IB majors interested in investment management. The international stock exchange centers have more than doubled during the past 10 years. It is expected that this field will continue to grow especially in light of the recent surge in East Asian and Eastern European markets. The IAIM program is a timely response to this surge and a proactive move to make Marquette’s IB/Finance and IB/Accounting double majors even more marketable.
7. How do employers benefit?
Providing an internship is an excellent way for investment firms to help students (who may become future employees) enhance their investment skills and learn how to apply theory to actual practice. While the students benefit immensely from an internship, the firms also are rewarded through the networking opportunities that take place within the AIM/IAIM program. Many companies find support for the AIM/IAIM program to be a powerful tool in recruiting top employees and engaging their managers with academic leaders.
8. How can I juggle working on my degree, interning at an investment firm, spending time with my friends, studying for the CFA exam, and still meet the obligations of the AIM/IAIM program?
There is no denying that the AIM/IAIM program requires a serious commitment. In addition to actual class time, you should expect to spend at least 15 hours a week researching investments and studying for the CFA exam. This is intended to be a rigorous program and there may well be some activities you will need to postpone while pursuing your degree. On the other hand, you are not alone in the AIM/IAM program – you will be enrolled in many of the same classes as your AIM/IAIM colleagues and will have an opportunity to travel through the AIM/IAIM program as a cohort. And the comparatively short duration of the AIM/IAIM program means the rewards for all the hard work involved are never too far from sight.
9. Is the IAIM program challenging?
While the AIM program requires a strong commitment from the enrolled student, the fact is that IAIM students have even more juggling to do! Foreign language requirements and study abroad will also be needed to obtain the double major in IB and Finance or IB and Accounting as an IAIM student. However, we have designed a curriculum that is attainable during the four year time frame for a degree from Marquette University’s College of Business Administration - plus a summer study abroad program. Admittedly this is a challenging task, but it is possible and very rewarding once completed.
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10. For what types of job will AIM/IAIM prepare me?
It is clearly very difficult to predict the path that a person's career will take. However, the thread that unites students in the AIM/IAIM program is their interest in investments and desire to obtain the CFA charter. Some students may be more interested in equity or fixed income investment research, while others will prefer to have a greater interest in the business side of the investment industry. Quite a few students have as their goal to work for an investment firm, obtain their CFA charter, and then attend a top tier graduate school. Others are interested in someday starting their own investment company or becoming independent traders. Others are interested in working in hedge funds or going to Wall Street as investment bankers. Starting positions in the investment industry are naturally dependent on previous work experience - and may range from an associate analyst position to an investment management trainee program to a mid-office credit analyst position (also see internships and careers).
11. What is the average starting salary for graduates of the AIM/IAIM program?
To date our internship and career placement statistics have been excellent. AIM students’ starting salaries typically have ranged between $40,000 to $65,000 depending upon location.
12. How do I know if the AIM/IAIM program is right for me?
That’s a decision you’ll have to arrive at independently. From our perspective we view the successful applicant to the AIM/IAIM program as having a strong intellect, an active curiosity about the investment industry, a demonstrated record of academic achievement, a well conceived plan for their future, and good communication and analytical skills. Candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate these traits through their academic record, resume, letters of recommendation, personal application essay, and program interview.
13. Who is eligible for admission to the AIM program?
Students applying to the AIM program are finance majors; however, some are also majoring in other business areas, such as accounting and international business. What the students accepted into the AIM program share is a sincere desire to succeed in investments, graduate from Marquette, and obtain their CFA charter. All of the students display a willingness to work hard toward achieving that goal. Most students enter the AIM program with a proven academic record and a passion for a career in the investment industry. Students submit their applications during the fall semester of their junior year – and if accepted into AIM, take their first AIM course in the spring semester of their junior year. To learn more, please visit the application information area of the AIM web site.
14. What about admission to the IAIM program?
The same criteria and process apply to the prospective IAIM student; however, the IAIM program applicant must also be an IB declared major.
15. How do I access application materials or more information?
You can access application material at the AIM web site. For specific inquiries, please contact the AIM Director, Dr. David Krause.
16. How many people apply to the AIM program each year? How many are accepted?
Marquette’s AIM program continues to grow in popularity. The last several years there have been over 40 interested students each year; however, less than this have actually submitted complete application packages. 18 students in each of the Classes of 2007 and 2008 were accepted. With the introduction of the IAIM program, this number is likely to slightly increase.
17. How many students will be accepted in the IAIM program?
Depending upon the number and quality of applicants that apply, we may admit up to six qualified IAIM students each year. 18. When can I apply for admission to the AIM program?
Students may apply to the AIM program during the first semester of their junior year. The AIM program is a three semesters, junior-senior program. Students interested in the AIM program must submit their application to the AIM Director by the second Monday in October.
19. What are the AIM program admission requirements?
Students interested in the AIM program will be required to submit a formal application to the Director of the AIM Program in the fall semester of their junior year. Unlike other offerings in the College of Business Administration, the selection process will be competitive due to the limited capacity of the program. Applicants will be evaluated by the AIM Admissions Committee, which is composed of the Director of the program, investment company representatives, and members of the Finance faculty. The selection of students for the program will be made by the Committee based upon the following: 1) overall academic performance (3.00 GPA minimum); 2) performance in courses relevant to investment management (e.g. finance, accounting, economics, statistics) ; 3) an application essay that articulates why you want to be in the AIM program and why you should be selected; and 4) experience and career objectives as demonstrated in your resume, letters of recommendation and interview.
20. Are there additional requirements for admission into the IAIM program?
In addition to the admission requirements for the AIM program, the IAIM applicant must also be a declared IB major. Please note that obtaining an IB major must be deemed realistic. For example, non-bilingual students entering their junior year (and applying to the IAIM program) with no language training, will not be considered eligible because it is not feasible to complete the IB language requirements during their normal studies at Marquette.
21. Who should I use as references in the application?
Select references that are qualified to evaluate your potential as a scholar and investment analyst. The people you select as references should have a good understanding of your abilities along with solid examples of your accomplishments. These individuals may include supervisors or managers, individuals from volunteer or community organizations, or others who can evalaute your work ethic and character. Former or present educators, who know about your interests in business and the investment profession, are also good references in the application process.
22. What part of the application is weighted most heavily?
The AIM/IAIM application is looked at holistically. While we consider all parts of the application important, we look closely at the student’s quantitative ability, their level of interest in the investments industry, and their work ethic and character.
23. What if I am not admitted to the AIM/IAIM program?
Many students lead successful careers in investments without going through the AIM/IAIM program. Finance majors often opt to study many of the same courses and take the CFA exam following graduation. Marquette University has excellent career services support and many of our graduates have been highly successful in the investment industry.
24. What can I do in high school or my freshman and sophomore years in college to prepare for the AIM program?
It is recommended that prospective AIM students that a heavy amount of mathematics (i.e. calculus and statistics). Students should also do well in their accounting and economics courses. It is also advisable to follow the financial markets closely.
25. What can I do to prepare for the IAIM program?
In addition to the advice given for the AIM program, prospective IAIM students should study a foreign language and try to enter Marquette University with three to four years of foreign language studies.
Contact
Dr. David S. Krause, Director of the Applied Investment
Management Program, College of Business Administration,
(414) 288-1457, david.krause@marquette.edu
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