Since arriving at Cambridge Judge, I’ve had a whirlwind month of lectures and spending time with new friends from various countries. Together, we’ve gone to bars, studied in the library, attended formal dinners at different colleges – and even tried rowing!
Trying new things – clubs, societies and sports
After Fresher’s Week, I joined the Rifle Shooting Society to try shooting and signed up for various other clubs as well, including rowing – a unique experience that I really enjoy, as it’s something special to Cambridge.
I’ve also taken on the role of Head of M&A in the Cambridge Investment Banking Society (CIBS). The society is open to all Cambridge students who aspire to a career in investment banking and organises workshops and networking sessions throughout the year.
As the Head of M&A, over the next 12 months I plan to deliver lectures to members on valuation topics such as discount cash flow, comparable analysis and precedent transaction methods.
Enjoying college life
I’m a member of St Edmund’s College, which is a 25 minute walk or a 7 minute bike ride from Cambridge Judge Business School (I mostly commute by bike). From the friendly porters to the delicious dining hall meals and my modern halls of residence, I’m very happy with college life. One of my favourite places at college is Eddie’s Bar, a cosy and friendly place to meet friends.
It was Halloween recently, so we all dressed up in costume for a seasonally themed formal dinner and enjoyed a Halloween party in Jesus College.
Learning about financial markets and current trends
Prior to joining the MFin programme, I was working as a portfolio manager on the buyside, so I’ve found it great to study the financial markets, various institutions, and the complex relationships between them.
Professor Simon Taylor’s course on Financial Institutions and Markets has been a fascinating course for me. The course covered current market topics like shadow banking and climate change investments, using real-world examples, which made the material more accessible and engaging.
Making friends from around the globe
I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the cohort, with students coming from a variety of countries and backgrounds. I majored in economics as an undergraduate and worked on the buyside, so before coming to Cambridge I’d mostly met people with similar backgrounds to mine.
But here, there are engineers, mathematicians, and even people from biology-related fields. Meeting friends from different countries with such varied knowledge is truly enjoyable. Everyone is kind and highly professional in their respective fields, so there’s always something to learn from them.
Looking forward to the year ahead
With just over a month left in the Michaelmas term, I’m determined to work hard to the end, aiming for good grades and creating many valuable memories along the way.
I was recently selected as the representative of Cambridge for the Turner MIINT Impact Investing Competition hosted by Wharton, and I’m now working hard with my teammates in preparation for our presentation in Pennsylvania next April.
About the blog author
Justin Hyunjin Kim is a CFA charterholder and joined the Cambridge MFin program with 6 years of experience in the asset management industry. His most recent position was an Equity Fund Manager at Shinhan BNP Paribas Asset Management. Justin holds a Bachelor’s degree Economics from the Pusan National University.
Outside of finance, Justin enjoys playing the piano, especially Chopin’s nocturnes. After completing the MFin, Justin hopes to stay in London or move to Singapore, Hong Kong, or other locations, for his next career move.
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