Trott Business Program (UCIB) Questions

Hi I’m a high school senior who will be entering UChicago next year! One of the options I’m considering a major in economics and a career in investment banking after college and the UChicago Careers In Business Program (now known as the Trott Business Program) caught my eye. Do any current or former students know how difficult is the program to get into? And what is the application process? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

There is an essay component (along the lines of “How UCIB can benefit you”) and an interview where you discuss your extracurriculars at UChicago and what careers you might be interested in. The barrier to applying is very low, and something like 40-50% of applicants get accepted. The typical student who is accepted is an Economics major of some variety, with an interest in finance, consulting, corporate, or marketing, who has both a good GPA at the point of applying, and extracurriculars that back that up. If you are applying with a GPA of <3.0 as an Economics major, that would be a red flag and possibly grounds for rejection.

Note that there is the general UCIB program, and a UCIB: Financial Markets program, which is more selective (like 20-25 students). Then there is the Dougan Scholars program, which is similarly selective but comes with more requirements (you must take 6 classes at Booth). Any of these programs would set you up well for investment banking, and the rest is on you to get a good GPA, have good extracurriculars and internships, and perform well during interviews.

The major benefit of UCIB is the UCIB-only networking events that take place throughout the year, and especially during junior recruiting season. Nearly 100% of students working in finance or consulting after graduation are in UCIB.