UCDC: Q&A with Andrew Huang

Andrew Huang is a third-year senior from Salt Lake City, majoring in business economics with accounting emphasis and financial mathematics. He participated in UCDC in Summer 2005. After graduating, he plans to work at an accounting firm while studying for his CPA exam. He eventually plans to go to graduate school to study financial engineering.

Q. Why did you decide to spend a quarter at UCDC?

A. I thought it would be a great opportunity to live in a new environment while gaining valuable career experience. I wanted to see whether I would consider moving to the east coast to work after I graduated.

Q. Please describe your internship.

A. I was an intern at Merrill Lynch. I gained valuable experience with responsibilities like managing and updating a growth stock spreadsheet daily, reviewing over 400 client portfolios, and researching hundreds of mutual funds and stocks. I had the privilege of attending all staff meetings and conferences which are generally limited to financial advisors.

Q. Did your internship or UCDC experience help you to focus your life or career goals or your plans for graduate or professional school?

A. My experience gave me a preview of what I want to do after college and what career field I'm interested in. It was a great way to experience what having a career feels like. I also learned many things by meeting different people and talking with them about career goals and education. The UCDC program also expanded my experience by teaching me real-world skills. It was valuable to be thrown into a career for a quarter to see how I could use my knowledge and apply it to the real world.

Q. Did your UCDC experience help you to expand your network? Did you find mentors in Washington, DC?

A. People are always saying it is important to network, and the UCDC program gave me the opportunity to meet hundreds of people. I feel this is the most valuable skill I learned in DC.

Q. Is there any advice you'd like to share with honors students considering applying to UCDC?

A. I think it is a great opportunity for students of all majors. Not only will you learn more than ever, but you will have a great time doing it. It's a great way to meet new people and experience new things in order to help you decide what you want to do after graduating.

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