Gatton's Department of Finance and Quantitative Methods has launched an exciting new opportunity for first-year students. Wall Street Scholars is a competitive experience open to no more than 30 freshmen students. It includes an accelerated curriculum enhanced by co-curricular activities and soft skill development. The experience is open to first-year students who would consider choosing or adding finance as a pre-major, major, or co-major.
Wall Street Scholars was inspired by a “predecessor” program called the Pelissier Scholars. Students in that program received mentoring and were selected to visit Wall Street firms on individual $2,000+ scholarships. The trip is a key element of the Wall Street Scholars program and has elevated and transformed the career paths of most participants. In addition to the New York visit, students in the program will participate in an accelerated finance curriculum and other career development activities to help them become competitive for the most sought-after finance internships.
According to former Pelissier Scholars participant and Gatton College student Braxton Scales, “I want to start out by acknowledging how blessed I feel to be able to attend a university that has incredible opportunities for all and encourages growth outside the classroom. Dr. Liu put an amazing itinerary together with ample internship opportunities."
Reflecting on the Pelissier Scholars’ New York trip, Gatton student Chris Tan said, “This past week has been one of the most interesting, jam-packed, insightful, and fun weeks in my career. From speaking to managing directors of bulge bracket investment banks to getting lost on the subway with my fellow scholars, my experience in New York differentiated me from most freshman students. The opportunity to visit one of the financial epicenters in the world has presented a vast amount of experience which will prepare me for my career in finance.”
The application deadline is September 30, 2019, so interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Application to Wall Street Scholars is open to all admitted Fall 2019 UK freshmen with the intent of including finance as a pre-major, major, or co-major. Underrepresented minority students are especially encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply at gatton.uky.edu/wall-street-scholars. Contact Wendy Liu at wendy.liu@uky.edu or 859.257.7651 with any questions.
