Full-time MBA | Candace Kirksey

My favorite New York spot is Long Island City in Queens. It has some of the best views of Manhattan. While walking along the water, you can see One World Trade, the Empire State Building, and the Chrysler Building all at once. But it also has a small neighborhood feel, with great restaurants and parks.

My favorite class was Foundations of Finance taught by Professor Bill Silber. He made finance - which never came naturally to me - interesting and accessible. His class inspired me to take on a Finance specialization here at Stern.

Stern's community was the determining factor in my choice of business school. When I visited as a prospective student, I found the student body to be warm, welcoming, and inclusive. As a first-year student I joined clubs (Graduate Marketing Association and Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students) and met some of my closest friends in these organizations. I also began working a part-time job in the Stern Undergraduate Advising Office, where I've developed wonderful friendships with my colleagues.

Living in New York has prepared me for success in a couple of ways. First, I have learned to stick to a budget for my groceries, get creative with meal preparation, and pack my lunches and dinners most days. Second, being among such a diverse population has opened my eyes to different ideas and ways of life, making me more empathetic and compassionate.

I was surprised by how down-to-earth and humble my classmates were, despite many of them having achieved great things in their careers before Stern.

My highlight was my Spring Break trek to South Africa in March 2017. I traveled with a group of eighty full-time and part-time students to Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, and Capetown. I met many new friends, bonded with old ones, and had so much fun exploring.


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