Master’s student overwhelmed by finance prep

Question

Hi everyone,

I’m doing my Master’s in Finance at ESCP and currently applying for summer analyst positions in London. I have a first-round technical interview coming up at UBS and I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed by how broad the prep seems (accounting links, valuation, market questions, even brainteasers).

I’ve gone through some guides like the WSO and Mergers & Inquisitions materials, but I find it hard to retain so much information and apply it fluently. Has anyone built a concise study plan or a “last 72 hours before interview” checklist that really helped focus the final prep?

Would love to hear what worked for others who’ve been in this stage recently.

Best,
Sofia

Answer 1

Here’s roughly what my 72-hour plan looked like:

Day 1:

Revisit core accounting (3 statements, how they link, major adjustments).
Review valuation basics- DCF steps, comps, precedent transactions, WACC, terminal value.
Watch a few YouTube quick refreshers (Patrick Lee, M&I summaries) helps a lot more than re-reading long guides.

Day 2:

Do 1–2 mock technical interviews with a friend or record yourself answering questions out loud.
Go through market updates: what’s happening with rates, major M&A deals, or recent UBS transactions.
Review behavioral answers (why IB, why UBS, team fit story).

Day 3 (final stretch):

Flashcards for quick recall (EV/Equity Value bridges, accretion/dilution logic, etc.).
Light review of brainteasers/mental math don’t overdo it, just stay sharp.
Sleep early. You’ll perform 10x better well-rested.

You’ve already done most of the heavy lifting, this phase is about clarity and confidence, not cramming.

Answer 2

Totally understand how you feel! Almost everyone gets that sense of overload before their first technical round. The key is not to know everything, but to focus on the few topics that come up 90 percent of the time.

In the last 72 hours, I’d suggest this structure:

Day 1: Review the three financial statements and how they link. Be able to walk through “how does $10 depreciation flow through the statements.”

Day 2: Refresh valuation basics (DCF steps, trading comps, precedent transactions) and practice explaining concepts out loud.

Day 3: Skim current market headlines, review one deal UBS worked on recently, and rest early.

You’ll retain more by summarizing on paper or teaching it aloud than by reading guides passively. Aim for confidence and clarity, not perfection.

Hope it helps and best of luck with your UBS prep.

Best,

Rita

Answer 3

Hey Sofia

When you’re trying to learn everything at once it can get pretty overwhelming.

Try to focus on a few key areas you really understand, like how the statements link together, basic valuation logic, and what’s going on in the markets right now. Once that foundation feels solid, everything else becomes easier to absorb.

It also helps to work through a few finance-related case studies. That way you build a bit of routine in how you approach problems, so when you get a case in an interview it feels familiar rather than stressful. It’s not about perfection, just about getting comfortable with the process.