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The Zurack Finance Program is a selective professional development initiative within the School of Management designed to prepare high-performing students for careers across the modern finance landscape.

The program provides structured training, mentorship, and applied learning opportunities across key areas of the financial industry, including:

• Wealth Management
• Credit and Corporate Finance
• Fintech
• Investment Banking and Capital Markets
• Real Estate Finance

Through a combination of technical instruction, professional skill development, alumni engagement, and experiential learning, the Zurack Finance Program equips students with the discipline, analytical foundation, and professional awareness necessary to compete successfully in today’s finance industry.

Unlike general student organizations, the Zurack Finance Program operates through a formal Spring Training Period. Students who successfully complete the training requirements and demonstrate professionalism and engagement may be invited to join the program as Zurack Fellows.

The program emphasizes technical competence, professional discipline, alumni connectivity, and long-term career preparation.

How to apply

Program Components

Zurack Training Period

The spring semester serves as the official Zurack Training Period.

During this period, selected participants engage in a structured curriculum designed to build both technical capability and professional readiness. Core components include:

• Weekly finance training workshop
• Applied technical tutorials
• Resume and interview preparation
• Structured networking
• Mentorship
• Alumni networking and industry exposure
• Applied case competitions judges by finance professionals

Participants are expected to approach the Training Period with seriousness and consistency. Attendance and engagement are monitored, and feedback is provided throughout the semester.

Completion of the Training Period does not automatically confer Fellowship. Students who demonstrate measurable growth, professionalism, and commitment to program standards may be formally invited to become Zurack Fellows.

Zurack Fellows

Zurack Fellows are students who have successfully completed the Training Period and have been formally invited to join the program.

Fellows are recognized as members of a distinct annual class (e.g., Zurack Fellows – Class 2026, Class 2027, etc.) and remain part of the Zurack community as alumni of the program.

Fellowship reflects:

• Demonstrated commitment to professional development
• Engagement with alumni and industry professionals
• Completion of program standards
• Adherence to the expectations of the School of Management
• A sustained interest in careers within the finance industry

Zurack Fellows form a growing network of students and alumni committed to excellence in finance.

Program Components

Professional Finance Workshops

Weekly sessions focus on the foundational elements of professional work in finance, including:

• Financial statement analysis
• Valuation fundamentals
• Portfilio construction and asset allocaion
• Credit anlaysis and capital structure
• Real estate underwriting and modeling
• Fintech and data-driven finance applications

Workshops are designed to reinforce analytical rigor and introduce the expectations of professional finance environments.

Technical Skill Development

Participants receive hands-on exposure to industry-relevant tools and methodologies, including:

• Bloomberg access through the Zurack Trading Room
• Financial modeling and Excel training
• Industry-specific tutorials
• Behavioral and technical interview preparation

Technical training emphasizes application, not theory alone

Applied Case Competitions

Students participate in structured case competitions across each of the program’s core finance specialties.

Participants analyze real-world financial scenarios, develop recommendations, and present their conclusions to industry professionals and alumni who serve as judges.

These competitions reinforce analytical precision, strategic thinking, and professional communication skills under realistic conditions.

Leadership and Instruction

The Zurack Finance Program is supported by:

• A Faculty Director
• Zurack Board Members
• Zurack instructors
• Alumni advisors and industry partners

Zurack Board Members provide strategic guidance and industry perspective.

Zurack instructors contribute specialized expertise and applied instruction aligned with professional finance standards.

Mentorship and Alumni Engagement

The program places strong emphasis on sustained alumni interaction.

Participants engage with:

• Upperclassmen and graduate student mentors
• Alumni working across finance disciplines
• Industry professionals visiting campus

Students are expected to initiate and maintain professional relationships throughout the Training Period and beyond.

Career Preparation

In coordination with SOM Career Services, the program supports:'

• Resume refinement
• Mock interviews
• Professional communication development
• Recruiting strategy guidance

The goal is to ensure students are not only technically prepared, but professionally competitive.

Expectations and Standards

The Zurack Finance Program maintains clear and consistent participation standards.

Students are expected to:

• Attend all required workshops and events
• Demonstrate professional conduct and preparedness
• Complete assigned preparation and deliverables
• Engage actively with mentors and alumni
• Show measurable growth during the Training Period

Attendance and participation are recorded and evaluated.

The program is designed for students who are prepared to commit time, focus, and effort to professional development.

Eligibility and Selection

The Zurack Finance Program is open to undergraduate first-year, sophomore, and transfer students within the School of Management who demonstrate strong academic performance and a serious interest in finance-related careers.

Admission is competitive.

Applicants must:

• Be in very good academic standing
• Demonstrate professionalism and initiative
• Submit a resume and transcript through the designated application portal

Additional application materials, deadlines, and interview information will be announced each semester.

Support and Access

Participants benefit from:

• Access to the Zurack Trading Room
• Structured technical training
• Alumni networking opportunities
• Faculty oversight and guidance
• Applied experiential learning opportunities

Students with demonstrated financial need may be eligible for travel support for approved program-related visits.

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How to apply

Applications for the Zurack Finance Program are accepted through a formal posting on at the beginning of each fall semester.

Students must submit required materials through the designated Handshake listing. Instructions, deadlines, and required documents will be provided in the posting.

Application Timeline

Early fall semester

• Application opens on Handshake
• Students submit resume and required materials

Mid–fall semester

• Applications evaluated by faculty and program leadership

Late fall semester

• Final participants notified

Spring semester

• Selected students begin the Zurack Training Period