What resources should an Indian student use to learn about private equity and finance before starting a US undergraduate program in economics?

Investopedia is the most practical and comprehensive starting point for building foundational finance knowledge. It covers everything from basic concepts like what a leveraged buyout is to more detailed explanations of specific financial instruments and valuation methods. The second resource is YouTube, specifically PE and finance interview preparation content. Watching interview question and answer videos for private equity roles serves a dual purpose: you learn what the important concepts are and you see how professionals at those firms speak and think about financial problems. This vocabulary matters enormously when you are networking or trying to get your foot in the door at smaller firms during your first summer.

• Beyond these free resources, Wall Street Oasis and Mergers and Inquisitions are online communities and knowledge bases specifically for students targeting investment banking and private equity careers from US universities, with detailed guides on recruiting timelines, technical preparation, and how to approach different firm types.
• For someone starting with limited formal finance education, building this knowledge base before arriving at university means you can engage in substantive conversations with professionals from the very beginning of your first semester.