Wall Street Scholar FAQs

How are students selected for Wall Street Scholars?

Wall Street Scholars is a competitive selection program. Strong candidates are highly motivated to succeed in the most competitive industries in finance and will exhibit high scholastic standing. Applications are open to incoming freshmen who intend to include Finance as a pre-major or double major. To apply, a student must be admitted to the University of Kentucky. Students of non-finance majors interested in this program and finance career success are encouraged to keep their original major and add finance curriculum while participating fully in finance career development activities. Below are additional recommended academic benchmarks:

  • Recommended Minimum ACT Composite Score: 26 (or minimum SAT (ERW+M) score: 1230)
  • Recommended Minimum ACT Math Score: 26 (or minimum SAT (Math) score: 610)
  • Recommended Minimum high school unweighted GPA: 3.7
  • Recommended minimum AP credits or dual credits: 6
  • Recommended AP courses: mathematics, statistics

The application and review process for the Wall Street Scholars is separate from the application and review process for other Gatton undergraduate scholarships.

How many students get accepted into Wall Street Scholars?

It varies from year to year. Meeting the required and recommended criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the Wall Street Scholars group. Cohort size is limited to optimize the students' experience. The selection process is highly competitive.

Am I a good fit for this program?

Wall Street Scholars will compete with the best and brightest in the nation for internships and full-time jobs. Here are some of the key questions to consider carefully before applying:

  • Do I have good attention to detail, initiative, strong analytical and communication skills, and high intellectual curiosity?
  • Am I willing to invest significant time and effort in and outside of class to network and prepare for the interviews?
  • Given my personality and aspirations, is this type of career (fast paced and competitive) a good fit?
  • Am I willing/interested in working in large metropolitan cities and financial centers such as New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Boston, Houston, Dallas, and San Francisco.

What happens once I submit my application?

Applications are processed on a rolling basis, and selected candidates will be notified of the decision and invited to interview.

Is Wall Street Scholars part of the Honors College?

Wall Street Scholars is not a certificate program or part of the Lewis Honors College. It will also not appear on transcripts.

Are there extra classes I’ll have to take?

You will be required to take a one credit class each semester during your first and second year at Gatton. The experience allows for an advanced pace through the academic curriculum as well as high impact learning and co-curricular education.

Are there scholarships available?

Scholarships are available on a competitive basis. Performance-based scholarships are given to admitted Wall Street Scholars each semester for first and second years.

What are some of the co-curricular activities?

  • Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) Certification: Wall Street Scholars students should complete Bloomberg (BMC) certification by the end of freshman year. This can be obtained free of charge at the Seale Computing Center in Gatton College.
  • Research using Capital IQ and other financial databases and news sources
  • Advanced Excel and Financial Modeling Training (e.g., Wall Street Prep seminars or Break into Wall Street): Participants are expected to complete the Wall Street Prep Financial Valuation and Excel Modeling seminar in the fall of sophomore year and the Wall Street Prep M&A and LBO Modeling seminar in spring of sophomore year.
  • Software and programming knowledge in Python & R
  • Networking: Wall Street Scholars must join invited networking meetings as often as possible. They are also expected to spend significant time networking with alumni and industry professionals to learn about finance practice, the companies, and work opportunities.
  • Leadership development: Wall Street Scholars are expected to actively participate or take a leadership position in their freshmen year in the Finance Society, the Real Estate Finance Club, or other student organizations to develop networking and leadership skills as early as possible.
  • Company visit(s): Participants can apply for scholarships for the faculty-led student group visits to New York City and other cities
  • Internships: Wall Street Scholars should secure at least one finance/accounting internship/co-op before junior year and a finance internship in the summer of junior year that has high potential to lead to a full-time position of the field/firm in which the student is interested.
  • Peer Mentoring and Giving Back:
    • Outstanding sophomore Wall Street Scholars may be invited to serve as peer mentors after successful completion of the first year of the Wall Street Scholars program.
    • Candidates in their junior or senior year are expected to offer mentoring, finance career advising, and other advanced career development opportunities to freshmen and sophomore candidates selected into the program.
    • Students completing the Wall Street Scholars program satisfactorily are expected to “give back” to the department and the college through mentoring help, visits, and/or other means.

Are there any requirements to remain in the Wall Street Scholars once admitted?

All admitted candidates must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.5 at the University of Kentucky.). Failure to do so will put the candidates on probation for one semester to bring the overall GPA back to 3.5 or to show strong evidence of improved performance and finance career development success. Failure to do so after the probation semester will result in immediate dismissal from Wall Street Scholars.