B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2004)

“Prior to the Jefferson Fellows Selection Weekend, I had mentally committed myself to attending the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.  Chicago’s prestige, being ranked #1 and #4 in the most often referenced MBA rankings at the time, was undeniable and very much appealed to me.  During the Jefferson Fellows Selection Weekend, however, I was introduced to a tremendous community of highly accomplished staff, students, faculty, and alumni at the University of Virginia that were not only supportive of but also engaged in the personal success of each Jefferson Fellow.”

“The prestige of being included in the Jefferson Fellows network certainly equaled or exceeded the prestige of attending a higher-ranked school.  Jefferson Fellows selection negated the “prestige factor” in my decision and I instead focused on which school would best support my academic and career objectives and which community was a better personal fit.  In the end, the University won hands down.”