University of Denver undergraduate and graduate students literally walked down Wall Street during the winter interterm to learn about the inner-workings and business prospects in the world’s financial hub.

“A Walk Down Wall Street” is a five-day course that allows students to visit top corporate executives and experience New York. The course has been offered for 12 years. It is also offered during the summer interterm.

Maclyn Clouse, program director, said, “It’s an opportunity to see how all the things from the classroom fit into real-life application.”

The program encourages recruiting, and several DU graduates have walked away with Wall Street job offers.

New York City is the mecca of the financial world, and Clouse feels that it’s the most appropriate place for DU students to grasp classroom theories.

“Students can see and hear from the people who are doing the financial analysis, the portfolio management and the stock trading,” Clouse said.

After Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the course incurred minor changes.

New York City and its Wall Street counterparts eagerly requested DU’s presence, although students weren’t able to walk through the New York Stock exchange during the December 2001 and August 2002 courses.

“The New York people said to come back. They wanted life to get back to normal,” said Clouse.

Clouse said the city, the students and the university benefit from the course. “A Walk Down Wall Street” builds DU’s reputation and recognition in the finance community.

“A Merrill Lynch representative told me she’s more apt to review a DU resume because she knows something about the school,” said Clouse.

Despite overall approval, only four students raised their hands when asked if they wanted to work in New York City.

According to Clouse, a career in New York may depend on how many commitments the DU student has in Colorado and in his or her life.

Clouse strongly recommends the course to students who do want to pursue a career on Wall Street.

Clouse said that Wall Street firms recruit during different times than Colorado firms, and sometimes companies are hesitant to hire people not from the east coast.

“The class gives students an advantage because they’ve been there. They can say, ‘I’ve talked to the analysts and I know what I’m getting into,'” said Clouse.