CollegeCore Alumni Spotlight

 

Avi Jain shines as a proud alumnus of Kelley, where outstanding performance is part of the culture. With a triple major in Finance, Business Economics, and Business Analytics, Avi embarked on a journey that has led her to the bustling world of Strategy and Transactions Consulting at EY in California.

Why study abroad?

Avi believes that studying in the US set her up for success in several ways. Most notably she appreciates Kelley’s focus on practical application and discussion. She said “These experiences supplemented what I was learning in the classroom/at networking events to create a holistic and real picture of what my career could be like. Within the classroom, professors encouraged students to interject and interact, to learn beyond what was on slides or textbooks.” She praises the inclusivity and flexibility built into the curriculum saying that, “there were limitless opportunities to customise your learning: study abroad with an internship, TA’s for every class, 3-2 MBA program out of undergrad, capstone research projects as an alternative to exams etc. Essentially, if you prefer learning in a specific format, you can work with your professors to create that opportunity.”

Why CollegeCore?

Avi’s appreciation for Collegecore is apparent in her enthusiastic feedback about our career counselling process. In her experience, “CollegeCore is uniquely positioned to prepare its students for life abroad, not only because they have a large alumni network, but because several counsellors themselves have gone through these experiences. This means you are actively being prepared for college throughout the application process, and not just after you accept an offer. For example, in preparation for my college applications, my counsellors guided me on the differences between the CBSE-oriented “creative writing” that I was accustomed to and American essays. When I wrote essays for classes at college, I still referred to my counselor’s notes. CollegeCore also hosted workshops with alumni to help with deciding on offers, packing essentials for college, and forming a comprehensive picture of what my life would be like for the next 4 years. I also received multiple checklists and trackers on the visa process, scholarship deadlines, packing, and student organizations at IU that might interest me.”

Core lessons

Despite her initial difficulties with adjusting to the culture shock of moving to America, Avi made an effort to step out of her comfort zone. She forced herself to interact with people by taking up a part-time role as a Resident Assistant as well as taking classes where she knew no one. Her key takeaways from her college journey are-

“1. No amount of watching Friends or The Office actually prepares you for the culture shock. Walk in with an open mind and the willingness to learn, to be uncomfortable.

2. It is awesome to have a support system of Indian students. However, push yourself to expand that circle early, no matter how awkward or unsuccessful you are at first. You will be much more prepared for life in the US out of college and for career networking. I’m married to an American now and I wouldn’t have found my amazing partner had I exclusively stuck to my Indian friends.
3. Everyone will have different priorities coming to college, and they may change over 4 years, but it is essential to be honest about what that means for you and commit to it. Before I set foot on campus, I knew graduating with a job offer was my #1 priority. Every decision I took from which classes to take, what organizations to join, to what parties to skip was defined by this.”

When asked if she had a final piece of advice that would benefit prospective freshmen, Avi affirmed, “If college is not smooth sailing, it means you are doing it right! These are meant to be the most transformational years of your life so learn as much as you can and push yourself outside your comfort zones. Be intentional, be adventurous, and be curious.”