• Possess a genuine interest in pursuing a long-term career in asset management, investment banking, and/or corporate finance
• Currently enrolled as a USC Marshall full-time MBA or MBA.PM student (full-time and part-time)
• Plan to graduate in May 2021
• Successfully completed GSBA 548 with high marks
• Prior to enrolling in FBE 553A, complete Financial Analysis and Valuation (FBE 529)
• Complete Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management (FBE 555) prior to, or concurrently with the first semester of enrolling in SIF
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above

All applicants must submit the online application. In order for your application to be considered complete, it must contain all of the following:

• A completed application form: SIF2021 Application
• A copy of your resume
• A 2-page personal statement (750-word maximum). In Page 1, explain why you are interested in the SIF and how working as a SIF manager would contribute to your career objectives. In Page 2, explain your unique skill sets and how you can contribute to the SIF program.

Upon receiving applications, the Selection Committee reviews the applications and makes recommendations for first-round interviews.  These 30-minute Round I interviews are conducted by the current SIF managers. In this interview, all applicants will be asked to give a 5-minute “pitch” of an investment idea. This usually focuses on a single stock, but applicants can also pitch a bond, an ETF, or any other investible idea. The second and final round interviews are conducted by SIF faculty in consultation with an ad hoc faculty committee. The final admission decisions will be rendered by early February.

The number of students allowed to enroll in this two-semester program is limited to 16 so that (a) each student may have direct experience in managing one of five portfolios and (b) the class as a group can visit with a variety of money managers. They are selected based on their genuine interest in pursuing a career in the investment management field.

Incoming SIF Student Managers are expected to attend special classes and fund meetings during the transition period from February to the end of March. SIF 2021 will assume fund responsibility April 1st, 2020.

Becoming a manager of the Marshall MBA Student Investment Fund represents a major commitment of time and requires a high level of personal responsibility. All students who wish to become members of the SIF must agree to the following (Note: this is in addition to all the normal responsibilities that are associated with an MBA course load):

• Daytime availability on Wednesdays and Fridays so that the student managers can meet with each other and make off-campus visits during normal business hours.  The expected daytime commitment is 10-15 hours a week, which includes regular fund meetings outside of class.
• Commit to enrolling in the SIF course (FBE 553ab Applied Portfolio Management) during both the fall and spring semesters (which may require foregoing another preferred elective course scheduled on the same day at the same time).
• Upon assuming the fund manager’s role, attend special class and fund meetings during the transition period from early February to end of March, 2020 to receive training and preparation for assuming full fund management responsibilities as of April 1, 2020.
• Attend all classes and site visits, which occur outside of regular class time, except those approved by the SIF instructors in advance (typically other Marshall academic events and job interviews).
• Meet regularly outside of class with co-managers to manage your portfolio
• Diligently carry out your primary fund role (trader, accountant, marketing or recruiting).
• Maintain at least a 3.3 GPA.
• Attend and support the SIF Annual Meeting 2020  (TBA) and attend the Annual Meeting in 2021.