Meet the Students of CGS: Eli Elman
College of General Studies 2017
Questrom School of Business 2019
Major: Business Administration with a concentration in Finance
Were you undecided on your major when you entered CGS?
I thought I knew what I wanted to do. But, like many people when they go into college, I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to do— it took college to figure that out. Originally, I thought I wanted to concentrate in International Management. I learned more about that and more about finance and I found that finance was more of the path I wanted to go with.
What is your favorite College of General Studies class and why?
My favorite class was probably my humanities class last year because I had a really good professor. Professor Joshua Pederson really engages with the students. I grew close with all of my professors. When people graduate and need recommendations, the big problem is that they don’t really know their professors. At CGS, it is impossible for your professors not to know you by your first and last name– and at least one weird thing about you– by the end of your year.
What is your dream job?
I’ve always been hesitant to answer that question because college is the time in your life where you are supposed to explore. I didn’t want to go into college with a narrow view, knowing exactly what I want to do, because then I would cut off other opportunities that might potentially be my dream job. Your career is fluid and you change a lot. I wouldn’t put my dream job down on paper.
If you could give one tip to incoming freshmen, what would it be?
My one tip is to take risks. You have four years to mess up. You are finding where you fit and explore it. If you are comfortable, you are doing it wrong because you really don’t know who you are when you are this young. It’s really important to explore because you don’t get that opportunity in your life.
Tell us something fun about yourself!
I love to travel. I went to China for a month before I came to college and that was a lot of fun. I am going to Israel in two months during the summer. I am interviewing right now with some big international companies in Israel and I love to see other cultures.
This interview has been edited and condensed.