Joining SIF  

Application Form

Click here to download the application form. Applicants must submit the application and attachments in one PDF file by e-mail to investment@marshall.usc.edu by Noon on Friday, 1/13/2012.  Please forward any questions regarding the application to investment@marshall.usc.edu.

SIF Information Session: 11/9/11 in JKP 110 from 6:00-6:30pm (Informal Q&A session with 2012 SIF members @ Traddie’s) Click here to download the slides from the info session.

Participation in the Student Investment Fund is limited to USC students (full-time and part-time) who have completed the M.B.A. core curriculum, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, and plan to graduate no earlier than spring semester following selection for the program.

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 wishing to become members of the SIF must agree to

• Prior to enrolling in SIF, graduate students are required to have completed Financial Analysis and Valuation (FBE 529) and complete or be concurrently enrolled in Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management (FBE 555),
• attend training sessions and fund meetings during the spring semester,
• commit to enroll 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),
• attend all classes and site visits, which occur outside of regular class time, except those approved by the SIF instructor in advance (typically other Marshall academic events and job interviews),
• meet regularly outside of class with co-managers to discuss the management of your portfolio,
• diligently carry out your primary fund role (trader, accountant, PR manager, or risk manager), and
• maintain at least a 3.3 GPA.
• Attend the SIF Annual Meeting usually held in April.
   

All this is in addition to all the normal responsibilites that are associated with an M.B.A. course load.

Selection of fund managers involves a rigorous four-step application and interview process.

• All applicants must submit a completed application form with required attachments by 1/13/12 via email to investment@marshall.usc.edu.
• First-round interviews will be with current SIF managers on 1/17-1/20/12. 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.
• Second-round interviews will be with the SIF instructor during the week of 1/23/12.
• Decisions are rendered by the end of January.