Finding a Major
When I was accepted to UGS, I was a little upset at first because I did not make it into my first choice, McCombs School of Business. But it gave me a lot of hope because I saw it as an opportunity to get to UT, explore, and later transfer to whatever school I chose.
I decided to transfer into McCombs and tried to do so my sophomore year, but my GPA was too low. So I worked harder and got in my junior year. I chose finance based on utility. I figured that I would be able to pursue individual interests throughout my life without the need of a university, so I chose my major based on what would be most useful to me in my career. I decided finance was a good balance between art and science, so I went with it.
Being a Finance Major
I don’t mind the prestige that comes with being a student at McCombs, but most importantly I enjoy the experience of being a student there. I am taught by the top faculty in the country, I have top students as my peers, and I learn material that is at the forefront of the business world thanks to the high quality and quantity of research that goes on. This idea blows my mind.
Also, every day I notice how much I look at things based on risk and reward. I think this is a direct result of all my finance classes.
Most Rewarding Class
I could say that my business communications class was part of what convinced me to quit smoking and saved my life, or that history of rock music invaluably deepened my appreciation of music, or that the variety of history courses I took increased my understanding of the United States and the general concept of racism in the country—but the most rewarding class I took was probably the Future of Humanity—a course for which I am currently writing my final paper. This class was extremely thought-provoking and the material we learned is excruciatingly intriguing to me.
Favorite Study Spot: The FAC or under a tree if the weather is right.
Student Organizations
I am currently financial director for the Undergraduate Studies Council and also the chair for the College Tuition and Budget Advisory Committee. I participate in the UT Student Senate as part of my responsibility of being a financial director.
Internships
I did two internships in El Salvador (my home country). One was with a local bank called Credomatic and another one with a distributor of baby products and other consumer goods called DALSE.
UGS Experience and Advice for Undecided Students
Being in UGS gave me the opportunity to get involved and get to know the university outside of McCombs.
My advice for UGS students is don’t worry too much about it. Find something you like or find useful and study that. Chances are that whatever you do later in your career will have little to do with what you studied in college. Also, get involved with student organizations as much as possible.