Matt Bae '21

Matt Bae '21, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, and some of his fellow Penn classmates recently visited the Prep to talk to students about careers in the financial sector. They introduced the Prep students to the various job opportunities; what steps the students may take to learn more about these careers; how to look for and apply for internships; and what courses they may find beneficial to enroll in while in college. Alumni Prep Update caught up with Matt after his visit. 

APU: What are you majoring in at Penn? Are you involved in any clubs or activities? 

MB: I’m in the College of Arts and Sciences getting my degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. I played on the club tennis team my freshman year, but just play recreationally now and I’ve really gotten into running lately. I’ve been involved in a few other clubs but my primary focus is with the student-run credit union here at Penn.

APU: How was it being back at the Prep?

MB: It was very nice to be back. I was back because my brother Peter ’24 is in the stock market club, and he asked if me and some of my friends could give a presentation on working in the financial sector. I think that was actually the first time I've been back since graduation, so it was really cool to see the renovations and how much the physical spaces have changed. I especially enjoyed giving the presentation to the guys. That type of alumni mentorship was something that I wish I had more when I was at the Prep, that someone would come back and give a similar talk. 

APU: Do you have any specific job plans in the financial sector yourself?

MB: For now, I’m really focusing on working in different parts of the industry and getting as much experience as I can. In terms of post-graduation plans, I'm not entirely sure. Long–term, I see myself in an investor-type role, but I’m still trying to figure it all out.

APU: Speaking of internships, I understand you were able to leverage the Prep network to secure an internship opportunity. Tell us about that.

MB: Yes, I was fortunate to come across the internship posted by Ed Courtney P ’08, ’10 on the alumni job board. I reached out to him, applied, and got the chance to interview. Finding an internship or summer job is always stressful and competitive, so I was really lucky to have the Prep network. 

In terms of the work itself, the firm I interned at is called RGP, which is a global consulting firm. I was working under Ed in the Philadelphia office on the strategic client accounts team. It was a great opportunity for me to learn about the industry and learn about how RGP works as a company. I was able to work through various projects as well, which provided me really valuable exposure.

APU: You’ve experienced the Prep network in two ways: both as a beneficiary, but also as a benefactor giving back to our current students. Can you touch on the importance of alumni paying it forward to the next generation of students?

MB: Now that I'm a junior in college and I have more leadership roles, I can look back and see how I’ve really benefited from the mentorship that I've experienced from some of the clubs that I've been a part of. One in particular that I’m very involved with is the student-run credit union here at Penn. It is one of only two student credit unions in the country. The opportunity and the experience to run a regulated financial institution has been amazing, but has also highlighted how important the people are. As a freshman and sophomore, I really enjoyed being able to learn and get advice from upperclassmen who were previously in leadership positions themselves. Now that I'm taking on some of these roles, I’ve realized how important it is to be there for the underclassmen.

When my brother reached out and asked if I could come back and speak at the Prep, I jumped on the opportunity. I find a lot of value in giving back because it helps set other people up for success. Experience is the biggest factor in determining what you want to do, and nobody really knows what they want to do at a young age. It can be very confusing. So it can be very helpful to have someone to guide you through the many questions you ask yourself at a young age. I know I would have benefitted from that. 

APU: What is one piece of advice you would give to our current students?

MB: It sounds cliche, but be open to growth. It can be very nuanced or may not mean much to some people, but it all comes down to taking the opportunity to explore new areas and developing an open mind. Siloing yourself in a specific activity, or club, or career path early on can be detrimental. It’s important to explore all of your options. Don’t discount something just because you don’t know much about it.