Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program

Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program

Girls Who Invest (GWI) is a nonprofit organization working to transform the investment management industry by dramatically increasing the number of women in portfolio management and senior investment roles. Their flagship Summer Intensive Program is a highly selective, fully funded four-week experience that places exceptional high school and college students at top investment management firms, combining rigorous financial education with real-world exposure to institutional investing.

About Girls Who Invest

The investment management industry manages over $100 trillion in global assets—and women occupy fewer than 10% of portfolio management roles. Girls Who Invest was created to change that equation by identifying, training, and connecting exceptional young women and nonbinary individuals who are interested in finance, economics, and investing.

Since its founding, GWI has placed students at over 100 partner firms including BlackRock, Vanguard, T. Rowe Price, Fidelity, Wellington, and many of the world's most prestigious asset management companies.

The Summer Intensive Program

The GWI Summer Intensive Program runs for four weeks each summer, combining:

Academic Component (2 weeks) Held at a partner university campus (recent programs have been hosted at Wharton, the University of Wisconsin, and Columbia), participants receive intensive instruction in:

• Investment fundamentals: stocks, bonds, derivatives, alternative investments
• Portfolio construction and risk management
• Macroeconomics and market analysis
• Financial modeling basics
• ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing

Firm Placement (2 weeks) After the academic component, each participant is placed at a partner investment management firm in a major financial center (New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco). At the firm:

• Participants shadow portfolio managers, analysts, and research teams
• Attend internal investment committee meetings
• Complete a mini-research project on a company or sector
• Build relationships with firm professionals who become mentors

The Entire Program is Free GWI covers tuition, housing, travel, and meals for all participants. Students pay nothing.

Eligibility

The Summer Intensive Program has two tracks:

High School Track: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors (typically 10th–11th grade at time of application) who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and genuine interest in investing or finance.

College Track: Rising college sophomores and juniors (the program serves both).

The program welcomes students who identify as women or nonbinary. Students from underrepresented racial and socioeconomic backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application

Applications open in November and close in February. The application includes:

• Academic transcript
• Two essays (background and interest in finance)
• Letter of recommendation
• Financial information (for need-based consideration)

Admission is highly competitive—GWI receives thousands of applications for fewer than 300 spots annually across both tracks.

Why GWI for High Schoolers

GWI alumni are recruited by top finance, economics, and business programs at Wharton, Harvard Business School (undergraduate), Columbia, NYU Stern, and Georgetown McDonough. The combination of academic training, firm exposure, and the GWI alumni network creates a career trajectory that most finance-bound students can only begin to build in graduate school. For high school students, getting into GWI is a genuine differentiator.

How much does Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program cost?

Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

What is the application deadline for Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program?

The application deadline is October 1, 2026. Always confirm on the program's official site, as dates can shift between cycles.

Who is eligible for Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program?

Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program is open to high school students in grades 10–11. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

Is Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program online or in person?

Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program is an in-person program based in Multiple US Cities. Expect a time commitment of roughly 40 hours per week.

How do I apply to Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program?

Apply directly through Girls Who Invest's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.