When is the deadline to apply?

Early Action deadline: Friday, September 15, at 11:59 p.m. (applicant’s local time). 

Regular Decision deadline: Wednesday, November 1, at 11:59 p.m. (applicant’s local time).

Please note that deadlines for 2025 Programs are subject to change.

What are the eligibility requirements to apply? 

To apply to Girls Who Invest 2025 programs, you must be attending or transferring to a four-year, accredited U.S. or U.S.-style college or university in the fall of 2024. 

• All applicants to the 2025 Summer Intensive Program (SIP) must hold sophomore standing, with an expected graduation date between fall 2026 and spring 2027. 

• All applicants to the 2025 GWI Online Intensive Program (OIP) must hold first-year or sophomore status, with an expected graduation date between fall 2026 and spring 2028. 

Do I have to be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident to apply?

Girls Who Invest does not limit or exclude applications according to citizenship status. OIP is a fully-remote, purely educational experience, and has no participation restrictions related to citizenship or work authorization. For students considering applying to the Summer Intensive Program, please note that the majority of our internships take place in the U.S., and thus require prior unrestricted authorization to work in the U.S. A small number of internships take place outside the U.S.  If you are not currently a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, please check if your school offers programs to assist in sponsoring your internship before applying to our program. Neither GWI nor our partner firms are able to guarantee sponsorship or assist in obtaining work authorization for international students.

Can I apply if I’m not a finance major?

Yes! We encourage students from all majors to apply. More than 100 distinct majors were represented in our alumni community of over 2,500 students.

What materials are required for the application?

As part of your application, you will need to submit the following:

• Complete online application form including two short answer prompts

• Most recent college transcript

• Complete high school transcript

• Resumé detailing work experience and extracurricular involvement

• One written essay of 350-500 words (prompt within the application)

• One-minute pre-recorded video (instructions within the application)

• (SIP Only) Two feedback forms from applicant-designated references

*Unofficial transcripts can be considered in the application review process.

Please note that application materials for 2025 Programs are subject to change.

Do I have to complete the application in one sitting?

No, you can save your application and come back to it as many times as you need, as long as it is completed and submitted by the appropriate deadline.

Do my reference feedback forms need to be submitted by the deadline?

You must designate two references at the time of application submission but can submit your online application before your references complete their feedback forms. Your application will not be penalized for reference feedback forms received after the deadline. We recommend that you inform your references of the corresponding deadline for your intended application round. GWI asks that all required materials are uploaded as close as possible to the deadline for your intended application round.

Who should I ask to serve as a reference for my application?

Please consider the following expectations when identifying your two references.

• A feedback form will take your reference approximately 30 minutes to complete.

• References will be asked to provide information including, but not limited to:

  • Context of your relationship

  • Assessments of your intellectual, personal, and professional qualities and skills, like strengths, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability

Reference feedback forms can be submitted by anyone who can speak to these qualities. Examples of appropriate references include:

• Current or past academic instructors (e.g., professors, teaching assistants, tutors, recent high school instructors - these do not need to be related to finance)

• School administrators (e.g., college or club advisors, school counselors, principals, deans, or similar roles)

• Current or past employers or supervisors

• Coaches or mentors

• Religious, political, or other community leader

We encourage a variety of perspectives but do not have a preference for particular combinations of relationships, provided that both references fall into the above categories.

Do I need to submit my test scores?

We do not request standardized test scores.

If I apply to one program, will my application also be considered for the other program?

Yes, for students eligible to apply to both programs, all applicants will be able to indicate directly on the application their primary program of interest, and whether they would like their application to be considered for the other program not in their original selection.

When will admissions directions be released?

For Early Action applicants, decisions typically are released in early November. For Regular Decision applicants, decisions typically are released in mid-December.

Should I apply Early Action?

Early Action rounds are non-binding. You are not obligated to accept an offer of admission. However, you must be prepared to indicate your decision to participate by a deadline communicated to you in your offer letter (typically one to two weeks). Early Action is a great choice for those who would like to receive a response earlier and get a head start on confirming their summer plans. Selection criteria are the same across all admissions rounds - there is no admissions advantage to applying during an Early Action round.

If I apply in an Early Action round, can my application be deferred to Regular Decision?

Yes, some applicants do receive a Deferral decision after submitting an Early Action application. If your application is deferred, it will be reconsidered during a later round of the admissions process. A deferral indicates that our committee sees your application as a strong contender, but would like to revisit your candidacy within the context of the wider applicant pool, or we may require additional materials to render a final decision.

Is there an application fee?

No, you can apply to our programs free of charge.

I’ve been waitlisted for the Summer Intensive Program. What does that mean?

Due to the limited number of internships available in the Summer Intensive Program, we have more applicants than we have the capacity to place. We require additional information from you in order to remain an active candidate in the waitlist. Historically, this information has included an updated resume, an updated college transcript, and a one-page letter of continued interest in GWI. Our goal is to utilize the waitlist as space in the program becomes available.  

What does the application’s video requirement entail?

A one-minute introduction video is required for all applicants. Videos should be natural and conversational, and reflect minimal production value (i.e. no music, backgrounds, filters, or other special effects). Applicants are asked to respond to a general prompt about themselves and their experiences within the allotted time frame, and should not plan to speak to individual internships or asset class preference. More details about requirements and formatting, as well as a sample video, can also be found within the application.  

What do I do if I cannot secure my final high school transcript inclusive of senior year results?

We require a complete high school transcript for your application to be considered for the program. Please reach out to your high school Registrar’s Office to ask for a copy of your transcript. Most schools are required to keep records of students even after they graduate. If you are unable to get a copy of your high school transcript we may accept alternative documentation including report cards, on a case-by-case basis, as approved by the GWI Recruiting & Admissions Team.

How are references submitted?

Through our online application, you will provide email contacts for your references, who will receive instructions directly from GWI on how to submit their feedback forms.. 

If I’m a First-Year applying to OIP, what academic information am I required to submit as part of my application?

Most application requirements are the same for all OIP applicants, regardless of class year. However, for submitting your college academic information, you may submit any of the following:

• College Transcript (official or unofficial) if it reflects your current class standing including any credits awarded for previous coursework (for example, Advanced Placement or Dual Enrollment)

• Screenshot of internal school portal that reflects your current class standing and credit accumulation

Are references required for OIP applicants?

References are only required as part of applications being considered for the Summer Intensive Program. If you are exclusively applying to the Online Intensive Program, you will not be prompted to identify references during the application process. Recommendations sent to GWI outside of the formal process are not encouraged - we cannot guarantee that materials that exceed application requirements will be reviewed by our committee.

Contact us at application@girlswhoinvest.org to ask questions or learn more!