At Franklin & Marshall, Binayak Jha ’27 found a place to explore his passions—and the support to pursue educational opportunities off campus. 

This summer, the computer science and mathematics major attended the Wharton Academy, an immersive business program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The experience gave him the opportunity to take what he’d learned at F&M into a collaborative, hands-on environment with students from around the world. 

“F&M gave me both the confidence and the contacts to navigate and leverage a high-intensity program like Wharton’s,” Jha said.

Binayak Jha ’27

Majors: Computer science and mathematics

Summer Experience: Wharton Academy at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

How did you learn about this opportunity, and what made you interested in pursuing it?

I’d been diving deep into the mechanics of the stock market, from reading annual reports, tracing sector rotations, and running mock portfolios, and I realized I wanted a more structured, fundamentals-first approach to finance. When I mentioned this to Stephanie McConnell, director of F&M’s Center for Career and Professional Development, she immediately thought of The Wharton Academy’s intensive summer program. After her recommendation, I submitted my application and was accepted with a full scholarship.

What was a typical day like?

Each day began with a deep dive into core finance topics—corporate finance, valuation, and risk management—from 9:30 a.m. until lunch, when I’d swap insights with classmates from across the country. Afternoons were all about hands-on learning: from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., we broke into teams to analyze real company data, tackle case studies, and pitch our recommendations. Evenings were just-as-energizing networking dinners, and on lighter nights, we’d go bowling or to baseball games at Citizens Bank Park. 

What was the most interesting or surprising part of the experience?

I expected some rigorous finance classes, but what really surprised me was how much the program felt like a startup accelerator. We weren’t just learning formulas; we were forming “mini-firms,” pitching to mock investors, iterating on feedback in real time, and even tapping into Wharton alumni networks for mentorship. By day four, I realized I wasn’t just a student in the classroom, I was part of a living venture where every group brainstorm felt like my own financial technology startup.

How did your time at F&M so far prepare you for this experience?

Franklin & Marshall’s amazing diversified community and hands-on approach had already taught me to seek out opportunities and make things happen. Whether it was collaborating with professors on research, leading discussions in clubs, or connecting with alumni through the Career Center, F&M gave me both the confidence and the contacts to navigate and leverage a high-intensity program like Wharton’s. 

What did you learn from this experience, and how does it support your goals?

In just nine days, I covered the equivalent of a semester’s worth of finance at a pace that forced me to think on my feet. That foundation is exactly what I need as I explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and finance! 

Students Found Nepalese Nonprofit

In 2024, Sujal Shah '27 and Binayak Jha '27 launched Uunchai, a free, six-week virtual project-based learning program for primary school students in Nepal. “Having personally experienced the challenges faced by students from the general education system of Nepal, I recognized a big gap in access to quality education, mentorship and growth opportunities,” Jha said.

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