Read the full story, published by the Tuck School of Business.
The transition from U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer to first-year business school student is a daunting one, as Robert Wilson, Tuck ’16, found out. But as overwhelming as career switching can be—especially while deployed at sea—Wilson knew he was in good hands thanks to Wall Street Edge (WSE).
The new student-run program provides career mentorship and preparation to incoming Tuck School of Business students from underrepresented groups interested in financial services, but who may not be aware of the range of possible careers or how to connect their previous experience and interests with the industry.
For Wilson, who was cut off from all outside contact while at sea, the support came in the form of regular communications between his wife and current Tuck students, who made her aware of the many opportunities available to her husband. Students also reviewed Wilson’s resume, gave him interview tips, and alerted him to the various pre-term programs available at Tuck.
“It meant so much to me and my wife that these students would take the initiative to work with my situation, to provide so much information and assistance, and to help me get off on the right foot to explore my interest in finance,” Wilson says. “As a transitioning military member, they—and this program—have been invaluable resources.”
The idea of a formal program where current students help incoming students—even before they arrive on campus—came from a recent graduate, who received tremendous support from across Tuck in bridging his pre-business school career in education with his goal of working on Wall Street, and wanted others to have the same experience.