Sharpe Fellows Program
The Sharpe Fellows Program is a year-long UCLA fellowship for undergraduates pursuing careers in investment banking, finance, consulting, or technology. As a Fellow, you’ll get individualized career coaching, an alum mentor with industry experience, treks to top firms, and access to a network of more than 800 Sharpe Fellows alums.
Application deadline: Monday, June 1, 11:59 p.m. PT. The 2026–27 application for current UCLA freshmen closed on April 20.
What you get as a Sharpe Fellow
Three areas of support sit at the heart of the Fellowship: career development, leadership development, and mentorship.
Career development
Sharpe Fellows get hands-on support securing and preparing for a summer internship in investment banking, finance, management consulting, or technology. The Career Development Foundations portion of orientation covers networking and how to compete for offers. Each Fellow has access to:
- Individualized career coaching and industry introductions through virtual office hours
- Inclusion in a resume book distributed widely to employers
- Eligibility for the Bruin Champions program, where Alumni Affairs sends your resume to alums at top organizations who advocate for you internally
The Sharpe Fellows Class of 2026 accepted summer internships at Bank of America, CBRE, Citi, Ernst and Young, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Lazard, McKinsey & Company, Moelis & Company, NBC Universal, Perella Weinberg Partners, PIMCO, PwC, Qualcomm, Uber, UBS, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Wells Fargo.
Leadership development
Many Sharpe Fellows are already campus leaders. The Fellowship year refines those skills, beginning with the Leadership Foundations portion of orientation. You’ll grow as a leader through training, treks to top organizations, and a civic engagement commitment that continues after the Fellowship year, when Sharpe Fellows return to mentor incoming Fellows and other UCLA students interested in business.
Mentorship and networking
Every Sharpe Fellow is paired with an alum mentor with relevant industry experience. Mentors have at least one year of full-time professional experience, and most have more. You’ll also gain access to a network of more than 800 Sharpe Fellows alums and other UCLA alums invested in business students. The Fellowship rewards Fellows who are ready to expand their professional network and take initiative in connecting with alums.
Who can apply
The Sharpe Fellows Program is for current UCLA undergraduates with a clear interest in business and a strong academic record. To be eligible:
- Enrolled full-time (12+ units) at UCLA during the 2026–27 academic year
- Expected graduation date of December 2028, March 2029, or June 2029
- Minimum 3.5 GPA
- Demonstrated interest in a career in business administration
- Genuine interest in leadership development and civic engagement
Applicants interested in private equity should apply through the Investment Banking vertical.
Program commitment
The 2026–27 cohort is one group divided into four sections by vertical: investment banking, finance, consulting, and technology. All Fellows meet together for two required in-person sessions:
- Orientation (Leadership and Career Development Foundations): Friday, September 18, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. PT, at the James West Alumni Center
- Networking Night: Tuesday, September 29, at a Los Angeles–area location
Attendance at both is mandatory. Every other activity is optional but strongly encouraged.
Full event schedule (2026–27)
| Activity | Date / Time |
|---|---|
| Sharpe Fellows Peer Mentorship | July–August |
| Mandatory Full-Day Orientation at JWAC | Friday, September 18, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. PT |
| Mandatory Bruins in Business & Tech Networking Night | Tuesday, September 29, 5:00–8:00 p.m. PT |
| Finance & Consulting Los Angeles Trek (Company Visits) | Friday, September 25; Friday, October 2; Friday, October 9; Friday, October 16 |
| Alumni Mentorship Pairings | September–June |
| Investment Banking New York Trek | Monday, December 14–Tuesday, December 15 |
| Technology & Consulting Bay Area Trek | Monday, December 14–Tuesday, December 15 |
| Optional Virtual Office Hours | September–June |
| How to Secure the Full-Time Offer | Thursday, April 8, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. PT |
| End-of-Year Sharpe Fellows Reception | Friday, May 7 |
All dates are tentative and subject to change.
How to apply
The application asks for a clean resume. Selected candidates interview in person with UCLA alums at the UCLA Career Center, with virtual interviews available for transfer applicants.
Transfer applicants for 2026–27 (now open)
Application deadline: Monday, June 1, 11:59 p.m. PT.
| Activity | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Monday, May 11 |
| Virtual information session (RSVP by Wednesday, May 27) | Thursday, May 28, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT on Zoom |
| Application deadline | Monday, June 1, 11:59 p.m. PT |
| Virtual interviews with alums (all verticals) | Friday, June 12 |
| Final decisions and confirmation deadline | Late June |
Current UCLA first-years
The 2026–27 application for current UCLA freshmen closed on Monday, April 20. Watch this page for the 2027–28 application timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Which industry vertical should I choose?
Pick the vertical that matches your career interest: investment banking, finance, consulting, or technology. If you’re interested in private equity, apply through the Investment Banking vertical.
How big is the Sharpe Fellows alum network?
More than 800 Sharpe Fellows alums are active across business sectors, alongside other UCLA alums who support the program.
About the program
The William F. Sharpe Fellows Program was created in 2008 by the UCLA Department of Economics and its Board of Visitors to engage UCLA alums, community members, and employers in supporting UCLA business undergraduates. It’s named in honor of Nobel Laureate and UCLA alum William F. Sharpe. UCLA Alumni Affairs runs the program in partnership with the Department of Economics and its Board of Visitors.
Contact
For questions about the Sharpe Fellows Program or to hire Sharpe Fellows, contact Ella Rae Columbres, Associate Director of Alumni Career Engagement, UCLA Alumni Affairs, at ecolumbres@support.ucla.edu.