The Bridgewater Scholars Program
In the fall of my freshman year, I got an email about a new program that Beyond Barnard was unveiling for students interested in finance. The Bridgewater New Pathways Scholars program was created to bolster Barnard students to fill in the gap of underrepresented women in financial services. Identifying how valuable of an opportunity this was, I decided to apply and give it a try– little did I know how important it would be for my professional and personal development.
Thus far, being a Bridgewater scholar has unlocked possibilities I had never envisioned. The New Pathways Bridgewater Scholars program is a four-year program for Barnard students interested in investments or finance careers. This program is in partnership with Bridgewater Associates, an American asset management firm headquartered in Westport, Connecticut.
The Bridgewater Scholars program provides invaluable mentorship and professional development experiences with employees working in financial services. Through these conversations, I have narrowed down my career interests and delved deeper into what I want to pursue. Connecting with employees in finance on a personal level has also given me so much more insight into what life looks like after college and where I could take my career in the future.
In the upcoming Summer, I will work with a Barnard professor in developmental economics on a research project. Other students in my cohort are conducting research in different fields of their own interest such as applied math, computer science, and even environmental policy. The Bridgewater scholars program provides students the unique opportunity to conduct research during their sophomore year summer with a professor at Barnard or Columbia to explore the intersectionality of their academic interests.
In my junior year summer, I will be able to complete an internship at Bridgewater Associates or another financial services firm to take my classroom learnings into the real world and get hands-on experience. Being a student in New York City has allowed me to attend events, network with professionals, and have unparalleled experiences which have aided my professional development. I’m excited to see how the Bridgewater New Pathways program evolves in the upcoming years. If you are a student interested in a quantitative field such as economics, computer science, or mathematics I highly encourage you to apply and not let the opportunity pass you by!