TAMPA — The University of South Florida’s 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.
“After working with thousands of students, I witnessed many talented students start
exploring finance career opportunities too late in their academic journey,” Liu said.
“With 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.”
Liu said the program aligns with USF’s commitment to experiential learning and long-term
career success for its graduates.
“Beyond teaching finance in the classroom, we aim to build a pipeline of exceptionally
prepared graduates who can compete at the highest levels,” Liu said. “The pathway
represents our long-term vision of becoming a recognized feeder school for the most
competitive finance roles, elevating USF’s reputation while providing transformative
opportunities for our most driven students.”
Participants will complete advanced training, such as Wall Street Prep’s 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.
“Many of today’s most successful finance professionals started in engineering, mathematics,
statistics, econometrics, or other quantitative fields,” Liu said. “Engineering students
often excel at process optimization, while mathematics and physics majors bring skills
that are highly desired in derivatives or quantitative trading roles.”
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.
“A 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,”
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.
“Success will breed success,” Liu said. “As the reputation of our graduates grows,
so will opportunities for future cohorts.”
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.