HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary member of the Class of 2023:
Name: Kate McCarthy
Hometown: Worcester, Massachusetts
Major: Marketing and finance with a minor in sales
Post-graduation plans: McCarthy will join Visa’s Client Services Development Program, where she will help strategic business partners grow their business, manage B2B client relationships and support internal and external stakeholders.
How HPU helped you get there:
“When looking for a college, I wanted to attend a university that would help fuel my ambition and support me in reaching my goals. HPU has the resources, mentors and programs that help students sharpen their passions and aim for more. The Office of Career and Professional Development helped me navigate the current job market and gain the skills needed to excel in my job search and interviews. The countless trips to 1924 PRIME and Alo, HPU’s fine-dining learning labs, made me feel comfortable and relaxed in an otherwise high-pressure setting. I was able to differentiate myself from the other candidates by having the business acumen to understand the proper way to conduct myself over a meal.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU:
“My most impactful mentor is Mark Michael, assistant professor of marketing and assistant director of the Professional Selling Program. He makes sure all of his students are set up for success, both in and out of the classroom. Professor Michael spent hours helping me prepare for my case study interviews, reviewing my job search progress and providing invaluable advice and expertise.”
Most impactful moment at HPU:
“My most impactful moment at HPU was joining Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity, during my freshman year. I was exposed to leaders, mentors and fellow students who have helped me grow professionally and personally. As Dr. Qubein says, ‘You are the sum of who you surround yourself with,’ and I could not think of a better group than the brothers of AKP. Serving in several leadership positions within this group allowed me to develop my leadership style and learn valuable skills that would later transfer to my professional experiences.”
How has HPU’s inspiring environment contributed to your success?
“The inspiring environment at HPU encouraged me to go after my goals. Whether hearing classical music on the promenade walking to and from class, having access to in-resident faculty who are leaders in their fields or seeing Ms. Valerie Baxter as you enter campus – the feeling that you have while on HPU’s campus is nothing short of inspiring. The professors are one of the biggest factors that contributed to my success at HPU. Having professors who care about you as a student and a person transforms your experience and contributes to the inspiring environment at HPU.”
What are the life skills HPU helped you develop that prepared you for long-term success?
“High Point University prepares students for the world as it is going to be, not just for the world as it is now. We are taught life skills beginning our freshman year, and we carry those skills with us during our entire time in college and beyond. Some of the most beneficial life skills I learned while at HPU were networking, coachability and how to build a personal brand.”
What are the values and virtues HPU’s campus helped you develop that you’ll take with you after graduation?
“HPU students recognize that they have to work hard for the things that they want, and that nothing will just be handed to them. I have been able to sharpen my ambition in a supportive environment where I have the resources to be successful. I will carry the value of personal initiative with me well beyond my graduation, recognizing that my success in my professional endeavors will stem from my own hard work, grit and determination.”
Advice for underclassmen:
“Get involved. Whether you join a club or Greek Life, get an on-campus job, attend a guest speaker seminar or have internships, expanding your network early is a key component to your success. The most successful students are those who get involved and take advantage of all of the resources that HPU has to offer.”
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