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Interview Process
Seven steps, built to find curious people of good character who can reason clearly, not people who had already memorized the answers.
The process
From first meeting to first session
- 01
Come to a weekly meeting or a PSTS event
Everything started by showing up. Candidates attended a weekly session or a Society event, saw how members work and argue, and decided whether this was the kind of place they wanted to put time into.
- 02
Meet the Founder or the Executive Board
An informal conversation with the Founder or a member of the executive board, wherever was convenient. No slides, no scoring, just a chance to talk about markets, school, and what the candidate hoped to get out of the Society.
- 03
Application
A résumé and a short written response on why the candidate was interested in financial markets. No prior finance coursework was required; curiosity and work ethic mattered more than major or class year.
- 04
First-round conversation
A structured conversation with a member of the executive board about the candidate’s background, interests, and fit with the Society’s culture and its five core values.
- 05
Behavioral interview
Questions about how the candidate had handled real situations: a time they were wrong, a time they led, a time they had to do the right thing when it was not the easy thing. The Society cared as much about character as about technical skill.
- 06
Technical interview
Foundational questions drawn from the curriculum: how the three financial statements connect, the basics of valuation and discounted cash flow analysis, and a discussion of a recent market event. Candidates were assessed on reasoning, not memorization.
- 07
Decision and onboarding
New members were welcomed into the Society’s sessions, introduced to the executive board, and started on the core curriculum, beginning with financial accounting and valuation.
What we looked for
Our five core values
Curiosity
Genuine interest in how businesses and markets work, shown through what a member reads, follows, and asks.
Coachability
Openness to feedback and the willingness to rebuild a model or rewrite a pitch until it is right.
Commitment
Reliable attendance and real contribution to sessions, events, and the Society’s community.
Competitiveness
The drive to prepare harder, pitch better, and measure yourself against the best student investors in the country.
Courage
Always doing the right thing, especially when it is not the easy thing, and helping others do the same. It also means the nerve to state a view and defend it under questioning.
How to prepare
Start with the curriculum
The technical interview drew directly on the Society’s first three subject areas. Work through them in order, then mock interview with someone who will push back.