Learn about successful alumni who accelerated their education and launched their careers through the UT2UT program.
Sophia Belilovskiy ’20
MBA, B.S. in Finance
Why did you choose UT?
Along with the many academic qualifications of UT, it has the advantage of its central, downtown location. This gives students the unique ability to be immersed in the surrounding businesses and corporations and to create meaningful connections within the business community.
What’s unique about the 4+1 MBA program?
Through the Strategic Management capstone course, students create a business plan for a local company. You get to work side by side with a business owner to make recommendations for improvement, all while learning about marketing, finance and operations. Looking back now, I see the impact this had on my critical thinking skills and development as a business student and working professional.
What was your favorite experience in the program?
My final semester was spent developing every part of a full-fledged business plan for my Strategic Management presentation. Seeing the look of excitement in the eyes of the company’s founder and CEO was priceless. Hearing his feedback and enthusiasm to implement our ideas was the perfect end to my 4+1 MBA experience.
What’s your advice to other students?
Make sure you have the capacity to commit to the program, and take full advantage of everything it has to offer. Talk to professors, get to know your peers and take every opportunity to go to events and listen to speakers.
Alison Robinson ’20
MBA, B.S. in International Business and Marketing
Why did you choose UT?
I learned about UT during my recruitment to the soccer program, and I was additionally impressed by the opportunity to meet students from around the globe. I wasn’t initially aware of the 4+1 MBA program, but my teammate connected me with graduate coordinator Fernando Nolasco, who went over the guidelines, including the need to maintain high grades in all my classes. I worked to gain 4+1 eligibility from that initial conversation.
What stood out to about the 4+1 MBA program?
Not only was the timeline appealing, but I was excited by the diverse student population. UT’s graduate students are people from all ages and backgrounds with a singular focus — we are there to learn. Additionally, the professors all bring their real-life experience to the classroom, and they truly care about you and your education.
Who was your favorite professor?
Professor Ali Jenzarli engages you and jokes with you while still being tough with the structure and content of his classes. On my first assignment, I ended up getting a 66%, and I thought to myself, “I’m going to fail.” But Professor Jenzarli took the time to counsel me on how to rethink my next project. I ended up getting a much better grade and learned the value of being challenged. As hard as that class was, I learned that my brain and mindset can change, and I'm grateful to him for teaching me that.
What’s your advice to other students?
Have an open mind, and know that graduate-level courses are challenging. The more you're able to retain during your undergraduate coursework, the more prepared you'll be, because your professors will assume you know all the basics in every subject. There are many people at UT to help you. Work with your professors, give it your all and, most of the time, you’re going to be fine.
Leslie Speranza ’19
MBA, B.S. in International Business and Entrepreneurship
Why did you choose UT?
I learned about the 4+1 MBA program during my initial visit to UT. My advisor explained that 4+1 applicants must maintain a certain level of academic excellence in their undergraduate business classes to qualify. Once accepted, students may enroll directly into their second year of MBA courses and skip the “entry level” ones. Essentially, you can receive an MBA at an accredited business school with highly esteemed professors in less time and potentially less cost!
What’s unique about the 4+1 MBA program?
The tight-knit community is integral to the uniqueness of UT. By having smaller class sizes, we're able to engage more deeply in conversations with each other and develop strong relationships with professors. These personal connections become the foundation of our professional network. For example, I received a recommendation from my advisor to interview for an internship position at an eminent aerospace and defense company. When I graduated from UT, that internship turned into my full-time job. As an employee, I recruited two more 4+1 MBA students for internship positions. The network you form with a UT degree is a powerful one.
What was your favorite experience in the program?
During the orientation workshop weekend, students were split into teams and assigned a fictitious company with a fictitious executive leadership role. We were given information about the state of our business and had to create recommendations for how to improve. UT staff advisors observed our behavior as a group and facilitated discussions. This workshop taught us some of the most impactful and useful lessons that I still use today in my job.
What’s your advice to other students?
There are numerous benefits in terms of networking and cost, but more importantly, the quality of the education is top tier. The professors are highly qualified and care deeply about your understanding of the material, with a focus on how to apply what you learn into the workplace. Upon graduation, I felt fully prepared entering the workforce and could hold in-depth conversations with all levels of employees on a variety of business topics. The 4+1 MBA program provides students with a competitive edge that will last for years to come.