A Smooth Entry into Business School

Thanks to Boothcamp, Daad and his fellow SMP students were able to start developing foundational skills ahead of the Fall Quarter. A standout class for Daad was Business Foundations with Kathleen Fitzgerald, MBA ’03, clinical professor of strategic management. “The course was very interactive and had us all working together,” he says.

Daad graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in molecular biology. He enjoyed working on a student investment fund, too, and decided to pursue a career in equity research. He had the research skills, but needed to boost his business knowledge to get the job he wanted.

“Booth stood out for its incredible curriculum,” he says. He learned a lot about the school from alumnus Michael Cebo, MBA ’17 (EXP-22), a family friend and executive director at Morgan Stanley, who couldn’t say enough good things about Booth. “It was a transformative experience for him,” Daad says. He plans to take what he’s already learned from Boothcamp—as well as the lessons he’ll learn throughout the MiM Program—to pursue a career in equity research. A dream job would be joining the healthcare team at a financial institution like Morningstar or Oppenheimer, he says.

Liam Dey, a Toronto native and Queens University graduate who majored in economics, credits Boothcamp for his smooth entry into the Asness and Liew MiF Program. “It immediately made apparent the resources we’ll have at our disposal,” he says. “It’s important, because those could get lost in the noise once the school year gets underway.”

Like Daad, Dey is interested in improving healthcare outcomes. To do so, he wants to expand his quantitative skills and learn how to channel more capital into the industry. He says exposure to career resources and a crash course in Python for accounting during Boothcamp have given him a head start on his goal.

Fellow MiF student Chelsea Romas appreciated that Booth prepared students with diverse undergraduate backgrounds for the program’s rigor. In addition to Boothcamp, Romas took the school’s self-paced online accounting course over the summer. It gave her a solid foundation to supplement her previous studies in economics at Texas Tech, and set her up well for Advanced Accounting in the fall.

“I’m very glad Booth helped us prepare for that,” she says. She plans to put her newly acquired skills to good use in her chosen career path in fundraising and investor relations within private equity.

Romas decided to pursue the MiF Program after her economics professor conducted an analysis of the opportunity costs associated with pursuing graduate studies as opposed to entering the workforce immediately. “He really sold me on grad school and encouraged me to apply to Booth,” she says. Booth was an aspirational school, and she was thrilled to get in.

Daad, Dey, and Romas also all enjoyed the opportunity to connect with their peers at Boothcamp ahead of the semester. Booth staff planned a range of social activities for students to relax after their coursework and get to know each other better.  

Dash says, “We also want them to identify as Boothies and feel a sense of pride, purpose, and belonging, to make friends for life, and to build a network they can rely on.”

The events included a scavenger hunt downtown, food-truck socials, small group dinners, and a brunch with Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, AB ’88, MBA ’96, followed by a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

“I really enjoyed these designated times to meet other people in the program,” says Romas, adding that she’s enjoying living and studying in downtown Chicago. “It’s such a beautiful and vibrant location. The SMP staff have done a fantastic job arranging social events for us around the city. Getting to know my fellow classmates and make new friends has been wonderful.”

For Daad, an especially memorable experience was the Chicago Architecture Boat Tour, where he and his fellow SMP students learned more of the city’s history while cruising along the Chicago River. “It was the perfect evening,” he says. “The city is absolutely beautiful—the boat tour was a highlight of both Boothcamp and of my time in Chicago so far.”

As an international student with the added complexity of settling into a new country, Dey particularly appreciated the dedicated time to get to know his new city and cohort. “You’re meeting people from all over the world who are coming from different backgrounds and experiences, and you’re getting to hear their stories,” he says. “It’s been incredibly interesting to learn more about each other and start to form friendships,” he says. As Dey begins the Fall Quarter, he feels confident and prepared thanks to Boothcamp and the school’s supportive environment.

Daad agrees, adding, “Boothcamp was an incredibly useful two weeks. It prepared us well to hit the ground running, and it helped us to get to know each other as a cohort very quickly. It’s nice when you start classes and there are already familiar faces.”