Welcome back to Trivia Tuesday, where we profile special offerings that help distinguish the top business schools from each other. Today we’re sharing an excerpt from the Clear Admit Guide to UT Austin / McCombs about the school’s Venture Fellows program.
“Founded in 1999 by a first-year McCombs student seeking to make inroads into the extremely competitive venture capital industry, the Venture Fellows (VF) program extends the school’s venture capital curriculum by providing hands-on internship opportunities with top funds in the industry. The Venture Fellows exist as an organization independent of the McCombs MBA program, sourcing their own funds and working to foster communication between Texan venture capital professionals and interested students. Each year, competition among first-year applicants is intense for one of the program’s 15 to 20 seats, and students should begin the application process itself by September.
“The VF program requires a two-semester commitment, from Spring Semester of a student’s first year through the end of their second-year fall. During both of these semesters, in addition to completing their coursework, Venture Fellows intern for approximately 10 hours per week with a partner firm in the venture capital industry. Internship placement is determined by matching the student’s current skills and future goals with the project needs of participating firms.
“In addition to meeting the required minimum number of work hours, interns are strongly encouraged to become more involved with their host company and contribute materially to their employer’s bottom line. In the past, fellows have contributed to their firms by raising funds, developing marketing plans and assisting with due diligence. At the end of each semester, interns receive letter grades for their work, which are largely determined by the firm’s estimation of the student’s ability to add value to their organization.”
To read more about McCombs, as well as to obtain in-depth program and curriculum information, be sure to check out McCombs School Profile!
