The Buzz

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

I chose the University of Rochester mainly for the curriculum: no General Ed. classes. Also, having a variety of opportunity to pursue your passion in research and small class size was an important factor that led me to attend UR.

What activities were you involved in as a student, and what did you gain from them?

The first activity I did was to join various international clubs as well as apply for the Resident Advisor position as a freshman. Joining int’l clubs, such as the Korean American Student Association and Chinese Student Association, led me to develop friendships in a variety of ethnicities as well as learn other cultures. On the other hand, being chosen to be an RA starting my sophomore year opened doors to leadership and greater responsibility. I got to learn how to be more open-minded by interacting with students from Freshman to Seniors. In addition, as an RA, I got to develop friendships with my residents, fellow RAs, Residential Life staff, as well as some key UR faculty members.

What resources did you use on campus that you recommend current students use?

My best resource was my upper-class friends and faculty. The upper-classmen have been on campus longer than you and know more about the campus. My primary source was asking someone who has more experience than I do.

What do you do no,w and why did you choose this career?

Currently, I am a business analyst at a global company. I manage the entire North American subsidiary’s marketing budget as well as company overhead. I chose this career because of various growth opportunities by learning how my company operates. I hold the entire budget for the company and manage it. In this way, I have a chance to see how different budgets are spent in order to operate a global company.

What skills, tools, or knowledge from your major have been most useful to you since graduation?

I majored in Financial Economics. The most useful tool I learned from my major is analysis. My current role requires critical data analysis and analyzing trends. Economics have taught me how to interpret data and understand what the data means.

What advice do you have for current students?

Time management and networking. Too many students, if not all, spend so much time on SNS such as Facebook instead of doing something that benefits their future. I highly recommend current students to travel to a new place that they’ve never been to. Apply for internships during summer breaks in a field you want to start your career. Start networking with people in the career field you want to be in after graduation. In this economy, from my personal experience, networking is KEY!