How does the Early Bird Program relate to the application service?

The Early Bird Program earns your cards; the application service plays them. They are independent services: when Early Bird students upgrade to application services, two years of planning records transfer seamlessly (no double charge); students who purchase only the Early Bird Program still receive a first draft of school positioning at the end.

Is the U.S. company internship a real position?

Yes — real positions at our partner U.S. companies (in finance, technology, media, and other fields), with concrete responsibilities and a supervising mentor. Remote or on-site depends on the role, and the experience produces resume-ready outcomes, recommendation letters, and can withstand background checks.

Is sophomore year too early for the GRE? Will the score expire?

GRE scores are valid for 5 years, and the summer after sophomore year is the golden window: coursework pressure is relatively light and the math is still fresh. Hit your target score then, and junior and senior year can focus entirely on GPA and profile — grinding for a score while writing essays in application season is the worst position to be in.

What is a coffee chat, and what is it for?

A one-on-one informal conversation (online or in person) with an alum or mentor in your target industry: hearing about the real day-to-day, career paths, and advice is more illuminating than any industry report. It is also your first lesson in networking — we coach you on what to ask and how to follow up, so 30 minutes delivers real value.

My freshman grades are already disappointing — is it too late?

It is not too late, and the earlier you act, the more room you have: GPA is a weighted average, and freshman year gets diluted by later semesters. The key is finding the cause (courses too hard / wrong study methods / wrong direction), adjusting your course mix, and building study support. Admissions officers value an upward grade trend just as much.

Early Bird Program

Freshman & Sophomore Early Bird Program

The strongest cards in graduate admissions are all earned in freshman and sophomore year: course combinations and GPA management, clarity on your major, winter and summer profile building, and GRE timing. The Early Bird Program turns these two years into a compounding growth curve — complete with a U.S. company internship, a career interest assessment with industry briefings, resume / LinkedIn setup, and one alumni / mentor coffee chat.

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Course Selection and GPA Protection

Semester-by-semester course combinations tailored to your major, using course difficulty and professor reviews to avoid pitfalls, and watching key Add/Drop deadlines — GPA is the top factor in graduate admissions, and we protect it from semester one.

Direction and Career Discovery

Career interest assessment + industry briefings + one alumni / mentor coffee chat: figure out what to study and where to go while the cost of exploring is lowest.

Early Start on Profile and Test Prep

Every break planned: research / competitions / a U.S. company internship secured; a GRE prep timeline with matching courses, first attempt in the summer after sophomore year — digesting application-season pressure in advance.

Process

Early Bird Program Process

Step 1

Positioning Assessment and Interest Testing

Career interest assessment and debrief
Review of academic ability and preferences
Initial shortlist of major directions

Step 2

Major Direction Mapping

Sub-field and industry briefings
Graduate study vs. employment path comparison
Target profile and gap analysis

Step 3

Course Combination Advice

Custom course combinations each semester
Course difficulty and professor insights
Long-range planning of credits and prerequisites

Step 4

GPA Management and Semester Follow-Up

Add / Drop deadline reminders
Midterm reviews and course adjustments
Early warnings on grade risks

Step 5

Winter and Summer Profile Building

Research / competitions / internships planned break by break
A U.S. company internship secured
Outcomes consolidated into resume material

Step 6

GRE Prep and Time Planning

Customized prep timeline
Matching prep courses and materials
Coordinated with coursework, never in conflict

Step 7

Career Starter Kit

Resume and LinkedIn setup
One alumni / mentor coffee chat
A first taste of industry networking

Step 8

Bridging Into Application Season

Systematic review of two years of progress
First draft of school positioning
Seamless handoff into application services

Positioning Phase

Execution Phase

Advancement Phase

Summer Planning

Make Every Freshman and Sophomore Summer Count

Goals and eligible programs planned for each summer, tailored to your region and year

What You Need

Cultural Fit: Settle quickly into campus and local culture, showing learning and adaptability — the groundwork for networking

Industry Insight: Build a basic picture of your target industry and be able to explain why it interests you

Job-Search Readiness: Get your resume and email etiquette into shape as the base for Sophomore program applications

Personal Experience: 1-2 club / campus project / small internship experiences showing planning and execution

What You Can Apply For

Leadership / Diversity Program

Opens: From June (the summer before freshman year through the freshman year)

Example Organizations: J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Meta, and more

Why It Matters: Builds networking and connections; strong performers can earn a Fast Track to the Sophomore Summer Internship

Campus Research / Volunteering and Startup Projects

Opens: Year-round (concentrated in summer)

Example Organizations: Campus labs, community organizations, startup competitions

Why It Matters: The lowest-cost first resume-worthy experience, and raw material for sophomore internship applications

Early Bird Advice

The goal of freshman summer is not "getting into a big firm" — it is banking your first tellable experience and mapping the industry landscape. We include a career interest assessment and industry briefing to narrow your direction to two options or fewer.

Program opening dates follow each organization’s announcement for the current year · Data as of June 2026

Deliverables

What You Will Receive

Course Combination Plan

A semester course schedule tailored to your major: difficulty ratings, course-selection advice, and Add/Drop backups

Summer Planning Timeline

A summer execution schedule running internships, skills, and standardized tests in parallel

Industries

See the Industry Clearly, Then Choose Your Direction

Profiles, starting salaries, and undergraduate prep checklists for six popular tracks

Finance

Work at the heart of global capital markets. New-grad Analyst total compensation runs about $110-150K, boutique investment bank starting salaries reach up to $130K, and quant roles pay even more competitively.