Sharpe Fellows Program

The William F. Sharpe Fellowship was created in 2008 to engage UCLA alumni, community members, and employers in supporting the career and professional development needs of UCLA’s top business undergraduates. Named in honor of Nobel Laureate and UCLA alumnus William F. Sharpe, the program has been successful in bringing together top employers with our brightest students interested in pursuing business careers.

As our future business executives, students also spend this Fellowship developing their leadership and capacity for civic engagement.

Benefits

Career Planning

Sharpe Fellows receive assistance securing and preparing for a summer internship by leveraging an exclusive network of connections and partnerships with alumni and industry leaders. Currently, the Fellowship provides support for students pursuing summer internships in corporate finance, investment banking, management consulting, and technology.

Each Sharpe Fellow receives individualized career coaching and industry introductions to help launch a successful career. UCLA Sharpe Fellows have accepted internships at top companies including Goldman Sachs, PwC, J.P. Morgan, Bain, KPMG, Citi, Credit Suisse, Google, Apple, and Intel. Most impressive of all, 100% of Sharpe Fellows have been able to secure a summer internship. A full list of past Sharpe Fellows and placements can be found here.

Mentorship

Upon being named a Sharpe Fellow, each student is paired with an alumni mentor. The alumni mentor has at least 3 years of full-time professional experience, although most alumni mentors have extensive years of work and knowledge. The alumni mentor serves as a resource as Sharpe Fellows navigate summer internship recruitment, and can also provide broader career planning advice.

In addition to their alumni mentor, Sharpe Fellows also have exclusive access to a network of over 300 Sharpe Fellow alumni that are rising leaders in business world, and other alumni invested in the professional success of UCLA students. This Fellowship is especially valuable for those looking to expand and deepen their professional network and are self-motivated to connect with UCLA alumni.

Leadership

Sharpe Fellows are campus role models; many are rising stars among their respective campus communities and serve on executive roles across various student organizations. As our next generation of business leaders, Sharpe Fellows also spend their Fellowship year refining their leadership skills. The program helps equip Sharpe Fellows with the competencies and knowledge to be successful global citizens.

Candidates for the Sharpe Fellowship should demonstrate an excitement for and commitment to civic engagement. Throughout the academic year, Sharpe Fellows are required to: attend quarterly business meetings where they work in groups to analyze and discuss pressing societal issues and how that relates to business; participate in various service opportunities; and contribute to solving social issues through their work in business.

Prospective Fellows

Program Eligibility

• Undergraduate students, enrolled full-time (12+ units) at UCLA 
• Expected graduation date of December 2023, March 2024, or June 2024
• Minimum 3.5 GPA

Application Process

The Sharpe Fellows Program annually selects the top UCLA undergraduate business students, and are supported by alumni, community members, and employers who are invested in the career and professional development needs of Sharpe Fellows. Prospective candidates for the Investment Banking Cohort must have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in investment banking. Successful candidates should also have an interest in leadership development and a genuine enthusiasm for civic engagement.

Candidates will be asked to submit a well-crafted resume and answer four (4) short answer prompts. After a staff review of all applications, selected students will be invited to participate in virtual interviews with a selection committee comprised of UCLA alumni, UCLA staff, and former Sharpe Fellows.

In order to be considered for the program, you MUST meet all eligibility requirements and complete the entire application.

The Investment Banking 2022-2023 application is now open:

• Deadline: Monday, January 24 at 11:59 p.m. PST
• Application available here

Contact Us

If you have any questions or want more information about the Sharpe Fellows Program, please contact the program managers at ace@support.ucla.edu.