From engineering to business school: Why Joshua Pardhe continued his ASU journey at W. P. Carey
A specialized master's degree from W. P. Carey offers new career options and networking opportunities to undergraduates throughout Arizona State University. We spoke to Joshua Pardhe, a current MS-FIN student who earned an undergraduate degree at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, to learn more about his journey.
Question: You earned your undergraduate degree at ASU and now you're here for grad school! Why did you decide to continue your journey at W. P. Carey rather than join the workforce?
Answer: I had the opportunity to start college early, which allowed me to graduate from Barrett and Fulton with my undergraduate engineering degree and quad minors/certificates at 20. Having interned with Goldman Sachs and Ernst and Young in financial roles, I developed a keen interest in financial engineering and quantitative analysis.
The Master of Finance degree at W. P. Carey not only had classes on quantitative methods, but was designed to be completed in just one year. Moving directly from my undergraduate degree into the MS-FIN program allowed me to complete my educational goals, while only requiring one additional year of academia.
Q: What aspects of your education and experience have been most meaningful to you?
A: The small class sizes and focus on experiential learning via group projects has been the most beneficial aspect of the program. Having worked in similar interpersonal environments to complete honors contracts as an undergraduate, the W. P. Carey graduate program was a perfect fit both for my learning style and my interest in hands-on work.
Q: Looking forward to the future, what do you hope to accomplish after you graduate?
A: My plan is to enter the consulting or quantitative engineering sectors after graduation; I want to apply my engineering and finance degrees to develop comprehensive solutions that maximize alpha.
Q: What advice would you give current ASU students who are considering a graduate business degree?
A: My goal to move from engineering to finance was to specialize in a specific field at the intersection of both careers. If that is similar to your personal goals, I would highly recommend that you take a look at the graduate degree offerings.
Alternatively, if you would like to gain more knowledge to advance into leadership roles or start your own business, a graduate degree can provide key information to help you make that transition. It can also provide networking opportunities and help you build a professional network in your field of choice. I co-founded a few biotech and AI companies as an undergraduate, and have been able to both apply my finance skills toward the companies and connect with incredible mentors in just my first semester of graduate school.
I think students interested in higher education, regardless of undergraduate focus, should look at the skills taught and opportunities provided by a graduate business degree, and see if and how the degree can help them advance toward their professional goals.
Q: If you were answering the question "why W. P. Carey" to any future student, what would you say?
A: I would strongly recommend future students to look at the opportunities and educational aspects of the W. P. Carey graduate program. While all schools will have similar coursework and topics, ASU's approach to education focuses on knowledge development through one-on-one mentorship, opportunities to hear from sector professionals, project-based learning, and multiple case studies on real-world topics. Combined with a quarter-based system that allows you to graduate in one year, I think the quality and uniqueness of W. P. Carey's education is what sets the school apart.
It all adds up to much more than a degree. Current ASU undergraduates from all majors are invited to explore graduate degrees through W. P. Carey Forward — a recruitment program and conference for aspiring Double Devils in business. There are plenty of ways to make an impact with an ASU MBA or master's degree in business. We look forward to meeting you!
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