Wells Fargo Sophomore Discovery Fellowship Program
- Omran Aburayya
- Sep 11
- 3 min read
If you are a student who has completed your sophomore year of college and are interested in getting real-world exposure in finance, business, or corporate operations — applications are now open for the Wells Fargo Sophomore Discovery Fellowship Program. This paid summer fellowship offers a hands-on, immersive experience designed to give you insight into full-time roles at Wells Fargo, through job shadowing, networking, structured programming, and a capstone project. Read on for details
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina; also New York, depending on business division.
Host Institution: Wells Fargo (Early Careers / Undergraduate Programs)
Level: Undergraduate (Sophomore, i.e. after 2 years of college)
Target Group: Students who have completed sophomore year, i.e. rising juniors; those interested in finance, business functions, tech, etc.
Fields of Focus: Broad business / financial services – include Commercial Banking, Corporate & Investment Banking, Technology, Internal Audit, Public Affairs, Chief Operating Office, etc.
Value & Coverage:
Paid hourly: US $25/hour in Charlotte, NC; US $30/hour in New York, NY for some divisions.
Corporate housing provided during the program, at no cost to fellows.
Award Duration: 6 weeks during the summer. For example the 2025 iteration runs from June 16 to July 25, 2025.
Application Deadline: For the 2025 cycle, applications closed around mid-January (January 13, 2025) but this can vary year to year.
Start Date: Summer (mid-June for 2025).
Eligible To: U.S. students (because U.S. work authorization is required), sophomores in college, those who can relocate to Charlotte (or New York for some roles) and meet experience and maturity requirements.
📚 Fellowship Overview
Here’s what the program structure and activities look like:
Induction / Training: The fellowship begins with a robust one-week induction featuring both technical and soft-skills training.
Rotational / Exposure Experience: Fellows rotate or have exposure to multiple business lines (e.g. Commercial Banking, Corporate & Investment Banking, Internal Audit, Public Affairs, Technology, Chief Operating Office). This includes job shadowing and on-the-job training.
Networking & Educational Events: Participants engage in networking with peers and current employees, executive speaker series, lunch & learns, cross-business networking events.
Capstone Project & Presentation: Fellows collaborate on a project with cohort peers, culminating in a presentation. Formal evaluation occurs at the end.
End-of-Program Evaluation & Possible Future Opportunity: There is a formal evaluation. High-performing fellows may receive offers for the Wells Fargo Early Careers Junior Internship following successful completion.
🎁 Benefits of the Fellowship
Paid compensation (hourly wage) — helping offset summer living costs.
Corporate housing included, which reduces or removes the burden of relocation costs.
Experience in multiple business functions within a major financial institution — good for clarifying career direction.
Professional training (technical & soft-skills) plus mentorship / job shadowing.
Opportunity to build network: with colleagues, senior speakers, other fellows.
Resume/building benefit of working on a capstone project and formal evaluation — useful for future internships or jobs.
Possible pathway into further internships (e.g. the Junior Internship at Wells Fargo) if performance is strong.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To apply, you must meet certain requirements:
Be a current sophomore undergraduate student.
Expected graduation date matching the program’s requirement. For example for the 2025 fellowship, that was December 2026 or May/June 2027.
Work experience: At least 6 months of experience or equivalent (this can include training, military experience, education, etc.).
Willingness to relocate to program locations (e.g. Charlotte, NC; possibly New York for some divisions) — with housing provided.
Work authorization: Must be presently authorized to work in the U.S. without requiring Wells Fargo to sponsor a work visa during or after the program.
Other desirable skills: strong analytical ability, quantitative skills, good communication (verbal & written), ability to work under pressure, teamwork, initiative, organization, motivation, interest in finance/financial markets.
📝 Application Procedure
Expression of Interest / Application via Wells Fargo’s Talent Community or Early Careers portal.
Fill out an online application form (personal information, academic history, etc.).
Possibly submit a resume, transcripts (or academic record), and possibly letters of recommendation (if requested).
Demonstrate work or comparable experience: describe past jobs, projects, training, etc.
Possibly undergo one or more interviews (behavioral and possibly technical or situational).
Since housing and relocation are provided, applicants may have to indicate willingness/availability to relocate.
💡 Extra Notes
Duration is relatively short (6 weeks), so it’s intensive — expect a fast-paced environment.
Even though housing & pay help cover costs, participants should consider any other living costs (travel to U.S., visa/travel documents, incidental expenses).
Because U.S. work authorization is required, this limits participation mostly to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or those who already have authorization. International students who require visa sponsorship are generally not eligible.
It’s competitive: strong academic performance, relevant experience, motivation, and fit with financial services will help.