Three students walking on a street in New York City in front of a colorful mural

Undergraduates get Wall Street insights, networking experiences in May trek to NYC; applications due Feb. 10

Imagine meeting face to face with CEOs and executives of some of the largest Wall Street firms. Now consider having that chance as an undergraduate student, as early as your first year. And at no cost to you.

That’s the opportunity provided to Case Western Reserve University first-years, sophomores and juniors through the Wall Street Trek, a three-day trip to New York City in May. While there, students of any major take part in one-on-one meetings, panel discussions and networking events with a broad range of companies and Case Western Reserve alumni.


Applications are due Monday, Feb. 10, by 11:59 p.m. for this year’s trek, which will take place Sunday, May 10, to Tuesday, May 12. Applicants must be available for the entire trip, including planned flights to New York and participation in all events.

While there, Case Western Reserve students will connect closely with alumni to explore career opportunities, gain and advice and network. But the participating alumni are not just giving their time; they’re also paying for all flights, lodging and food during the trek.

Companies visited or networking opportunities last year included JP Morgan Chase, Deloitte, PwC, Morgan Stanley and more.

“This [networking] is something that would take years of reaching out to people,” said Victor Xie, now a junior finance and economics major at the Weatherhead School of Management. “And we’re actually getting it in two days.”

The short trip can have a big impact on a student’s future. “I was lucky enough to be picked on the inaugural 2016 trek,” Katie Wede (CWR ’18) said in the video. “After the trek, I got phone calls from HR at all these different places, ‘Hey, we want to interview you for this position, this position.” Wede went on to gain a career opportunity with a large firm in New York City after graduation and participated in a speed networking event with Case Western Reserve students during the 2019 trek.

Applications are due Monday, Feb. 10, by midnight and can be submitted through the Google Form. For more details or questions, contact Drew Poppleton at drew.poppleton@case.edu or Scott Fine at scott.fine@case.edu.

The Case Western Reserve University Wall Street Trek is a collaboration among New York City area alumni, University Relations, Post-Graduate Planning and Experiential Education, and Scott Fine, professor of banking and finance in the Weatherhead School of Management.