Business Scholars Program

The Business Scholars Program (BSP) supports the academic and personal success of first-generation and low-income college students pursuing an undergraduate business degree at Georgetown University.

Housed within the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access (CMEA) and supported by the McDonough School of Business Undergraduate Programs Office, BSP provides targeted academic resources, co-curricular programming, and community-building experiences designed to promote retention and long-term success for underrepresented students in business education.

Summer Experience for Incoming Scholars

BSP begins the summer before a student’s first year:

Scholars take two for-credit courses:
- MARK 1101 – Principles of Marketing
- WRIT 1152 – Reading and Writing Seminar
Students earn nine academic credits before the fall semester.
Programming includes faculty-led workshops focused on:
- Personal branding and networking
- Academic preparation
- Navigating college life and the McDonough student experience

This early start helps students adjust to campus life, connect with peers, and build a strong academic foundation before the broader student body arrives.

First-Year Program Highlights

During their first academic year, BSP scholars benefit from:

Ongoing academic and professional development workshops hosted by the McDonough Undergraduate Programs and the BSP team
Access to signature McDonough programs, including:
- Smart Start, a professional readiness initiative in partnership with PwC
- The McDonough Success Fund, designed to reduce financial barriers for undergraduate students
Targeted academic support, including:
- Small-group workshops for ACCT 1101 – Introduction to Financial Accounting, led by dedicated faculty to support success in core business coursework

Ongoing Support Beyond Year One

BSP continues to support students throughout their academic journey with:

Personalized advising from both CMEA and McDonough Undergraduate Programs
Access to:
- Guest speakers and industry professionals
- Workshops in key business disciplines such as accounting, statistics, and finance
- Career and summer internship planning seminars
Leadership and mentorship opportunities, including:
- Mentoring future BSP cohorts
- Serving as a peer mentor for BUILD (Building Undergraduates Invested in Leadership Development), McDonough’s pre-orientation program

BSP Staff

Questions?

Interested in learning more about BSP?

All programs and activities are open to all Georgetown University students regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected under University policy or applicable law.