Prabhav Kamojjhala, BPE '23
Tell us about yourself.
Growing up in Bangalore, I was always fascinated by the intersection of Business and Government. Much of the city’s growth was defined by the rise of the tech industry. With a growing city, however, comes the policy challenges of mitigating the stress on resources such as education, housing, water and public transit. It was in this regard that the uniqueness of the BPE program stood out to me - it embodied an interdisciplinary spirit that recognized that the lines between businesses and governments are blurred. Unlike a pure business degree or a pure political science or economics degree, the BPE program appeared to give me both the flexibility and breadth of perspective needed to succeed in both fields. I was sold on the idea from the get go and ended up applying for Early Decision.
What has been your favorite feature of BPE?
I have enjoyed the tight knit community within the program. Alumni have been extremely willing to support me throughout my journey in the program and in my searches for internships. Reaching out to seniors was also a great way for me to learn about different career paths and eventually helped me figure out what I want to do. I don't think I would be where I am today without the kindness and support of the many BPErs who have come before me.
Are you involved in any co-curricular activities at Stern?
I'm currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Gould Standard - a student publication that I was introduced to by a BPE alum who was Editor-in-Chief at that time. I am also serving on the Executive Board of 180 Degrees Consulting - a social impact consulting club that works with local non-profits on strategy consulting engagements. In the past I was also a member of the research team of Stern's Economic Development Group.
Do you have any advice for high school students interested in BPE?
Be prepared for a rigorous curriculum. The BPE program's required courses will typically have demands that surpass other courses you'll take at Stern. Be it professor Foudy's introductory class or our Macroeconomics class, being a BPE student really pushes you to grow out of your comfort zone with challenging coursework. I also strongly recommend students take Microeconomics with Calculus. I think the calculus I learned in that class really helped me understand Economics in a rather profound and interesting way. I was also someone who did not have a very extensive math background. Taking econ courses with a strong math component really helped me become more confident in both disciplines.
