Tunnel Vision

Tunnel Vision

Written By: Kai Melant

Going into McCombs, I had minimal experience with business terminology. When I first heard words like “IB” and “quant,” they felt completely foreign. But as classes picked up and I began to settle in, those terms became part of everyday conversations. It seemed like everyone around me already knew exactly what path they wanted to pursue. As someone who leans more creative and who only has a rough idea of what I want to do, I felt a bit out of place, especially within McCombs and CBHP.

Over time, though, I realized that a lot of that certainty was just on the surface. Many students don’t have a set idea of what they want to do. Harun, a CBHP freshman, told me that as a pre-med student, he had real doubts about how CBHP fit into his plans. Hearing others talk so confidently about their career paths made him feel behind, but the community around him, including peers, mentors, and upperclassmen, helped him see that his uncertainty was normal and valid.

I’ve had similar conversations with upperclassmen who told me they once felt the same pressure to fit into the “typical” McCombs tracks even when they weren’t sure those paths were right for them. Programs like McCombs, CBHP, and HBA have been working to support students who feel unsure. This year, HBA launched a big-little program where upperclassmen help guide freshmen through early career questions. Chioma, a CBHP senior, shared that “Canfield BHP has increased opportunities for students to learn more about non-traditional McCombs pathways through different events,” which has helped broaden perspectives beyond the usual options.

Even though IB and consulting may seem like the dominant choices, the truth is that many CBHP students are still figuring things out, probably more than you’d expect. And there are far more career paths available than the ones everyone talks about. You just have to take advantage of the resources around you and give yourself the space to explore.