Application Information & FAQs

Prospective Scholars will begin their application on our website. Sophomores can apply to the GWI Scholars Program and opt into consideration for the Internship Track. First-year students are eligible to apply to the GWI Scholars Program and cannot opt in to the Internship Track.

Preferences for the Summer Intensive Program (SIP) or the Online Intensive Program (OIP) are not part of the application process.

All Scholars begin their GWI experience as a unified community within the GWI Scholars Program.

Applicants are not able to directly apply to the Summer Intensive Program.

Prospective Scholars who are interested in the Summer Intensive Program should apply to the GWI Scholars Program and opt into consideration for the Internship Track. Admitted Scholars on the Internship Track will have the opportunity to be considered for internships at GWI Partner firms. For the portion of Scholars ultimately matched with internships, most will participate in the on-campus component of the Summer Intensive Program (SIP) held at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton campus in June prior to their internship, though a small number may participate in the Online Intensive Program, depending on host firms’ needs and timelines.

Please note that being selected for the Internship Track does not guarantee an internship through GWI, nor does it guarantee participation in the Summer Intensive Program. The number of internships available through GWI’s Partner firms varies from year to year. Internship availability depends on GWI Partner firm capacity in a given year, and only a portion of Internship Track Scholars  will ultimately be matched with a GWI-facilitated internship.

The GWI Scholars Program is an inclusive training program for undergraduate first-years and sophomores of all gender identities, including male-identifying students, who have demonstrated a commitment to GWI's mission. If you meet these requirements, you are encouraged to apply.

To apply to the 2027 GWI Scholars Program, you must be attending or transferring to a four-year, accredited U.S. or U.S.-style college or university in the fall of 2026. All applicants must hold first-year or sophomore status, with an expected graduation date between fall 2028 and spring 2030.

Note: Program eligibility is determined by anticipated college graduation date, not by accumulation of credit.

The priority deadline to apply to the 2027 GWI Scholars program is September 15, 2026. The final deadline to apply is October 15, 2026.

Applicants who submit by the priority deadline of September 15 can expect to hear back from the GWI team by October 15, though timing may vary depending on application volume. 

Prospective Scholars applying to the GWI Scholars Program by the final deadline of October 15 will hear back from the GWI team by early December. 

Please note that the timing of decision release is at the discretion of the GWI Recruiting & Admissions team. Due to the holistic and committee-based nature of our review process, we cannot accommodate requests to accelerate admissions decisions.

No, you can apply to the GWI Scholars Program free of charge.

Applicants who submit their completed applications in advance of the September 15 priority deadline can expect to receive an admissions decision by October 15, pending application volume. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as it is complete so our team can begin reviewing your application. However, the timing of decisions will be at the sole discretion of the GWI Recruiting and Admissions team and will depend on a number of factors. 

Please note that the GWI team will utilize a contextual, holistic, and comprehensive application review process, regardless of application submission date.

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

• Complete online application form including two short answer prompts

• Up-to-date 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)

• (Sophomores) Most recent college transcript

• (First-Years) Complete high school transcript

• (Internship Track applicants only) Two feedback forms from applicant-designated references

Unofficial transcripts can be considered in the application review process.

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 be found within the application.

GWI uses a holistic application review process to consider context, preparation, experience, character, interest, and many other factors from submitted materials. As such, there is no minimum GPA that determines eligibility for admission to the GWI Scholars Program.

No. We do not request standardized test scores.

First-year applicants are required to submit a complete high school transcript for an application to be considered for the program, including any national examination results that are considered a graduation requirement in the country where you attended high school, if applicable. Unofficial transcripts (high school or college, as required) can be considered in the application review process. 

If you do not have access to your complete high school transcript, please reach out to your high school Registrar's Office to request a copy. Digital transcripts may be sent to you, or directly to the GWI Recruiting & Admissions team at application@girlswhoinvest.org. 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.

Note: For sophomore applicants, only a complete college transcript is required. You have the option to upload a high school transcript within the application, if desired.

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. Note: references submit only the GWI Reference Feedback Form. Separate letters of recommendation are not accepted.

Applicants opting into consideration for the Internship Track must designate two references at the time of application submission. However, you can submit your online application before your references complete their feedback forms. All materials must be submitted by the final application deadline - October 15, 2026.

Please note that applications will be reviewed once all required materials are received, including reference feedback forms. We recommend that you inform your references when you have submitted your application and of the final application deadline to ensure that your application can be reviewed without delay.

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, including 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

At least one reference should be a person you have interacted with while enrolled in college. 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.

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.

GWI does not limit or exclude applications according to citizenship status. The GWI Scholars Program is largely a remote, educational experience, and has no participation restrictions related to work authorization.

If opting into consideration for the Internship Track, please be advised that the majority of internship matches facilitated by GWI require unrestricted authorization to work in the U.S. and will not be filled by students on Curricular Practical Training (CPT), or by those who would otherwise need visa sponsorship in the future (i.e., STEM OPT, H-1B, TN, E-3, etc.).

First-Year applicants are required to submit a complete high school transcript (grades 9-12 or equivalent coursework), including any national examination results that are considered a graduation requirement in the country where you attended high school, if applicable.

Sophomore applicants are required to submit a complete college transcript.

Unofficial transcripts (high school or college, as required) can be considered in the application review process.

Applicants are welcome to provide updates throughout the application review process as they arise, either by email to application@girlswhoinvest.org or by uploading new material through the application management page.

Yes. If you're not admitted to the GWI Scholars Program during your first-year, you're welcome and encouraged to reapply as a sophomore. Each application is evaluated on its own merits, so a prior application doesn't affect your eligibility or candidacy in a future cycle.