Connor Bayly '19

Connor Bayly '19, BS Financial Information and Analysis
Hometown: Kirkville, N.Y.

I've always been good with numbers, but I chose to attend Clarkson because of the people. The professors, students and everyone else I met during my visits were so nice, and I could sense the tight-knit community. Coming here just felt right, and it still does.

While Clarkson has an outstanding reputation for engineering, the School of Business is also noted for its excellence. I was able to start a business in my freshman year and take a variety of courses that diversified my skill sets in all aspects of business — marketing, supply chain, information systems, finance and so much more. The opportunities for learning never stop; I even decided to push back my graduation date in order to go on co-op for a year. The experience will be well worth it.

Clarkson provided good financial aid — another essential piece that factored into my decision to come here. I first heard about the University when I received the Clarkson Leadership Award in high school. So here I am, a financial information and analysis major, minoring in project management and HR management!

I believe I was well-prepared for Clarkson because of my strong work ethic, willingness to learn and ability to adapt to situations. I can see how Clarkson has helped me grow since coming here. I am better able to balance the responsibilities of classes, work and extracurriculars. I’ve learned to collaborate with others by participating in all kinds of team projects. And, I’ve been able to refine my leadership skills, which I know will help me after graduation.

Outside of classes, I'm involved in the business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, Residence Life, CUSA (our student association) and a variety of other organizations. I also work part-time as an office assistant in the School of Business. I’ve found that all of the opportunities to get involved is one of the best aspects of Clarkson. There are more than 180 clubs and organizations — surely something for everyone! Being involved helps you learn how to lead, manage and serve. These traits, along with other soft skills, are necessary for the workplace, but you cannot learn them through classes alone.

Clarkson has given me so many opportunities. Last summer I traveled to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and was able to see how culture affects business. I have been involved in the start-up of three businesses. Although none of them were launched, I learned about the necessary steps and the amount of work it takes. I’ve also had multiple internships at a local credit union.

Right now I have some exciting things on my plate. I will be working as a financial management co-op with General Electric Aviation this fall. I'm really looking forward to it! Also, I’ve been using my new financial skills to start investing in the stock market. This is important to me, because my goal, once I graduate, is to start working, quickly climbing the corporate ladder. I want to continue investing and learning. Eventually, I would like to start my own investment firm and to help teach others the importance of investing early.