TAMPA 鈥� The 杏吧性世界鈥檚 Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance has launched the Finance Talent Pathway, a new program designed to prepare high-achieving undergraduates for competitive careers in finance.
Applications are open to incoming freshman and sophomores enrolled in the Kate Tiedemann school. The deadline to apply is Sept. 5.
The program will admit a cohort of up to 25 students. Those selected will participate in high-impact learning and advanced co-curricular activities intended to prepare them for roles in investment banking, private equity, private credit, asset management, private wealth management, consulting and corporate finance leadership.
Wendy Liu, a professor of instruction in finance and director of the program, said the pathway is designed to provide early, structured guidance to students who are aiming for careers in highly competitive finance sectors.
鈥淎fter working with thousands of students, I witnessed many talented students start exploring finance career opportunities too late in their academic journey,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淲ith many top-tier internships requiring applications 18 months in advance and acceptance rates as low as 1%, structured guidance provided as early as possible can be a game changer.鈥�
Liu said the program aligns with USF鈥檚 commitment to experiential learning and long-term career success for its graduates.
鈥淏eyond teaching finance in the classroom, we aim to build a pipeline of exceptionally prepared graduates who can compete at the highest levels,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淭he pathway represents our long-term vision of becoming a recognized feeder school for the most competitive finance roles, elevating USF鈥檚 reputation while providing transformative opportunities for our most driven students.鈥�
Participants will complete advanced training, such as Wall Street Prep鈥檚 Student Passport online training and in-person seminars on valuation, mergers and acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts Excel modeling, Bloomberg Market Concepts certification, and research using Capital IQ. Students will also participate in small-group or one-on-one training in building public speaking and interview skills, networking opportunities, and multi-day company visits to financial firms in New York City.
Scholarships and funding by the school will cover program-related expenses. In addition, up to four freshmen and four sophomores will be eligible for $5,000 performance-based awards each spring.
Liu said the pathway welcomes students from STEM disciplines who enroll in the business school because elite finance firms increasingly value diverse analytical backgrounds.
鈥淢any of today鈥檚 most successful finance professionals started in engineering, mathematics, statistics, econometrics, or other quantitative fields,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淓ngineering students often excel at process optimization, while mathematics and physics majors bring skills that are highly desired in derivatives or quantitative trading roles.鈥�
Applicants must report either SAT or ACT scores. Freshman applicants are required to submit their unweighted high school GPA, and sophomore applicants must report their current GPA or the GPA from their transcripts after the spring semester of freshman year.
Applicants will be evaluated on academic performance, relevant experiences, communication skills and commitment to professional growth. Liu said perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and work ethic are critical.
鈥淎 successful applicant might not have the perfect GPA but could demonstrate an impressive overall profile, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to thrive under pressure,鈥� she said.
Liu envisions the program evolving into one with specialized tracks for different finance sectors, a robust alumni mentorship network, and expanded industry partnerships.
鈥淪uccess will breed success,鈥� Liu said. 鈥淎s the reputation of our graduates grows, so will opportunities for future cohorts.鈥�
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and selected candidates will be invited to interview. Additional information, including full program details and link to the application, is available on the Finance Talent Pathway website.