Samantha didn’t come from a finance background. The youngest of four, she was the first in her family to pursue a career in business. By the time she reached USC, she knew she was drawn to numbers, and during her sophomore year, everything fell into place.

“Two weeks into my first finance class, I remember calling my parents and telling them, ‘I’ve always done well in school, but I’ve never loved it until this class.’ That’s when I knew.”

When Samantha first heard about Adventis through a classroom presentation, she was actively seeking ways to sharpen her technical skills. She enrolled in an Adventis boot camp and immediately saw its value:

“I loved the Adventis boot camp. The 10 hours that I was there, I found it fascinating just how all the numbers worked in a technical aspect on the page. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue a high-finance career.”

The Financial Modeling Certification® (FMC®) Program gave Samantha something her coursework hadn’t: a practical, real-world application of finance and accounting.

Ready for Interviews. Ready for Wall Street.

Samantha’s participation in the FMC® Program provided her with the foundation to excel in technical interviews, secure a place in USC’s highly selective Finance Scholars Program, and ultimately land coveted private equity and investment banking internships. Samantha credits the FMC® Program with transforming her interview preparation.

“You can memorize technical guides, but Adventis gives you a real understanding of the concepts. It made the interview process so much easier—I wasn’t just reciting answers, I actually understood them.”

Adventis certification also came up during her interviews.

“Most interviewers asked about my Adventis certification, and were very impressed once they understood all the hard work it required.”

Building Confidence and a Network

Adventis didn’t just prepare Samantha technically. It opened up doors to mentorship and community. She found herself reaching out to other Adventis alumni—people who had taken the course or served as trainers—turning their shared experience into professional connections.

“It was always a great conversation starter. Adventis gave me another point of connection to network within the industry. My biggest mentor was actually the trainer above me. That relationship helped me tremendously.”

How the FMC® Program Gave Samantha (and 70+ Other USC Students) a Competitive Edge

The Adventis certifications played a pivotal role in Samantha’s recruiting success:

• Technical Preparedness:

  “I think the whole recruiting process would have been more difficult without Adventis. By the time I started reviewing the 400-question guide for technical interviews, I realized I already understood most of the key concepts because I had learned them from Adventis.”

• Excel Efficiency:

  “One of the biggest things I took away from Adventis was all the cool shortcuts. I always tell people in the classes I teach that if nothing else, Adventis will make you look super cool in Excel.”

• Confidence in the Interview Process:

  “The way Adventis lays out the basics of financial modeling set me up for success. When I got into the University of South Carolina Finance Scholars Program, it all built upon what I had already learned in Adventis.”

When asked what differentiates Adventis from other training programs, Samantha highlighted access, support, and timing as key factors.

“You can buy online courses, but they’re expensive and don’t usually come with real-time help. Adventis brings this training to college students early, with in-person boot camps and support. That’s rare—and incredibly valuable.”

More Than Technical Ability. Adventis = Work Ethic, Attention to Detail, Financial Acumen

With the technical and competitive edge gained through the Adventis certifications, it was a crucial piece of the puzzle that successfully secured Samantha:

• A private equity internship at a middle-market firm in San Francisco.

• An investment banking internship with a top-tier bulge bracket firm in New York.

• A leadership role as a Student Trainer for Adventis, demonstrating her mastery by teaching others.

Samantha’s Advice to Students and Schools

To students:

“Even if you’re not sure exactly what you want to do, the skills you learn through Adventis will help you tremendously. At the bare minimum, you’ll look really cool in Excel—and more importantly, you’ll be confident in any finance interview.”

To faculty and university leaders:

“Adventis sets a foundation students can build on—whether they go into investment banking, private equity, accounting, or data analysis. No other company I’ve seen targets college students so effectively at this stage in their career.”

Samantha’s story is proof of how Adventis’s FMC® Program can provide more than just technical knowledge; it builds confidence, competence, and career momentum.