Rising Leaders Program

High quality internships provide students with valuable work experience that can enhance their future careers. The UC San Diego Department of Economics and the Economics Leadership Council (ELC) have created a program to help top students pursuing majors and minors in economics, management science, international studies-economics, and joint math-economics.

The ELC, a group comprised primarily of UC San Diego Economics alumni and financial executives, has identified a network of professionals at top firms in finance, consulting, hedge funds, and accounting. Students selected as Rising Leaders will obtain assistance from the Department and members of the ELC and be marketed to these companies as top candidates for internships.

Opportunities for internships will be with companies throughout the U.S. with a high concentration in San Diego and New York. Paid internships typically last 10 weeks. Students who get an internship must be willing to travel to the placement location. Some internships serve as a recruitment process for permanent staff positions to start after the intern graduates. Because UC San Diego students will be competing against applicants from other top universities, the selection process is very competitive. Selected students are expected to play an active role in their internship search, and will receive advice relating to resumes, cover letters, and interview skills.

Benefits of Being a Rising Leader

• Support from the Economics Leadership Council
• Scholarship of $1,500 (disbursed over the 2013-14 academic year)
• Support of a strong alumni network to assist in obtaining prestigious summer internships
• Technical assistance to improve application materials
• Some selected students may receive professional training from alumni

Qualifications to be Selected as a Rising Leader

• Be a current UC San Diego student, majoring or planning to minor in: economics, management science, international studies-economics, or joint math-economics
• Plan to return to UC San Diego after successful completion of the internship
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and will have completed some of the upper division core course-work prior to summer of 2014
• Be interested in professional development in the internship areas
• Be willing to travel if selected for an internship

Application Process

To be considered for the Rising Leaders Program, students must submit the following materials:

• Professional Resume (students are strongly encouraged to consult Career Services prior to submission)
• One copy of a recent degree audit
• One recommendation from a UC San Diego faculty member (in a sealed envelope or submitted directly from the faculty member via email to econugadvisor@ucsd.edu)
• One cover letter (not to exceed 500 words) discussing:
  • The career the applicant hopes to pursue and why
  • Relevant academic studies and skills developed that make the applicant qualified for that career
  • Any employment or extracurricular experience that has prepare the applicant for an internship

Submit all materials to the Department of Economics Sequoyah Hall 245 or via email to econugadvisor@ucsd.edu.

Thank you for your interest in the Rising Leaders Program: the 2013-2014 application period has closed. The next call for applications will be in 2014, for the 2014-2015 Rising Leaders Program.

Successful applicants for the 2013-14 Rising Leaders Program will receive support and guidance throughout the year to prepare them to compete for summer 2014 internships. Candidates will receive notification of acceptance to the Rising Leaders Program in June of 2013.

Candidates with diverse academic or cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.