With another successful commencement behind us, recent High Point University graduates are preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary senior from the Class of 2016:
Name: Brandon Sloan
Hometown: Oakland, Michigan
Major: Sloan graduated with an B.S.B.A. in Accounting, with minors in Mathematics and Finance, on May 7.
Post-graduation plans: Sloan accepted a position as an Investment Banking Analyst at Deloitte Corporate Finance in Dallas, Texas. In his position, Sloan will construct detailed financial analyses to value companies in mergers and acquisitions transactions. He will also create pitch books, confidential information memoranda for prospective investors, and management presentations.
How HPU helped you get there: “The most important attribute of HPU that aided me in securing my full-time position with Deloitte Corporate Finance is that of accommodation. My course load each semester was rather unconventional. I was permitted to bypass most prerequisites, which allowed for my enrollment in upper-level accounting courses starting my freshman year. This aggressive start to my academic career resulted in my rapid advancement through the accounting major. Thus, I was able to complete my accounting major and 150 credits, so that I could sit for the CPA exam, all within 3 years of schooling. The fact that my quick progression through my academic requirements was both permitted and encouraged, allowed for me to be a competitive candidate when the interviewing process commenced.“
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “My most impactful mentor at HPU was without a doubt Professor Scott Davis. The high academic standard to which he holds his students often resulted in my critical thinking, problem solving and analytical research skills being pushed to the limit. Aside from assisting me on my quest to reach my true academic potential, Professor Davis helped me grow as a person. His office hours presented me with the opportunity to stop by and receive valuable life and career advice throughout my time here at HPU.“
Most impactful moment at HPU: “The most impactful moment I experienced at HPU was when I received the results from my first CPA exam. When I refreshed my browser at 1 in the morning on February 23 and saw that I had passed, I legitimately screamed and started jumping around in my room. My passing score attests to the validity of the accounting degree and the aforementioned high academic standard to which the entire accounting faculty holds its students. Also, it was encouraging for me to learn that I was the first student in High Point history to pass part of the exam while still being in school.“
Advice for underclassmen: “One’s intellectual curiosity should be continuously nurtured and developed. One of the most reliable and overlooked ways to happiness is cultivating and exercising our innate sense of curiosity. Curiosity creates an openness to more unfamiliar experiences, paving the way to greater opportunities to discovery, joy and happiness.“