AFCEA Scholarship Recipient President, MIS Club; Career Offer Prior to Graduating as Technical Database Consultant at Teradata
"The most valuable experience I have had at Wright State was getting to learn about such a wide variety of materials. I learned a lot about topics I knew nothing about, both in MIS and other aspects of business such as the implications of international trade policy and the global economy. Exposure to such a diverse aspects of business has definitely given me a great foundation as I start my IT career at Teradata."
Why Wright State?
I had wanted to be in IT for a long time; I just wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do in the field, such as Computer Science or Engineering. Then I had heard about MIS from a friend who was going to Wright State. It sounded like a very solid program – and it is both AACSB and ABET accredited! So I completed the two-year parallel program at Sinclair transferred to Wright State without a single problem.
Tips for Success
Try taking a variety of classes that aren't required. You will learn things that will be useful in whatever you end up doing. Don't be afraid to ask faculty for help and advice. They're always willing to listen to ideas and help you out if you are having trouble or challenges. Make sure to look hard for internships when you have the ability to do so. Many are for juniors but some are available to sophomores. They are very good experiences and most potential employers really value candidates with some intern experience -- plus paid internships can put some extra money in your pocket!
Leadership
I am currently the president of the MIS club and also attempt to take leadership roles in many of my class projects and groups. I feel this is a great way to gain a bit of leadership experience by working closely with your peers and there are a lot of opportunities to take on these positions during your experience at Wright State.
Internships/Class projects
I have had one internship so far with CareSource, a local managed Medicaid company located in Downtown Dayton. I was in their first group of interns that they had ever taken in and worked with their web application development team. It was a great learning experience to be able to work with and talk to people that had been in the field for twenty plus years. It was also very cool to help a project go from planning to implementation and see all the steps in between.
Career Plans
I have already accepted a job doing Technical Database Consulting with Teradata. I’m really excited about the route I’m taking. Through the database classes offered at Wright State, I realized that's what I really enjoy doing more than anything else in IT. I'll be traveling every week, and learning a lot, and I hope to be able to continue and grow my knowledge and ability on this specific subject, and hope to stay with this growing multi-national company for a very long time.
