Fifty students from the Academy of Business and Finance at Coral Reef Senior High School, most of them in the midst of planning a career entrance strategy, participated in last Friday’s Senior College Day.
The one-day campus visit included a tour of FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus, including the College of Business, an information session about a broad range of business courses and business careers and an informal conversation with a panel of current COB students. The chat covered topics ranging from financial aid, study abroad programs, and on-campus resources available for students.
“Get a degree that’s in demand, that people are interested in hiring for,” a COB student offered as friendly advice. Added another: “as a business student, you have to learn to do everything.”
COB students offered advice and guidance.
A first for Coral Reef Senior High and for the College of Business, Senior College Day was designed to give high-performing local high school students more information about the business education available at FIU, and encourage them to give their “neighborhood school” more serious consideration.
“Learning isn’t just faculty teaching to students,” said David R. Klock, dean of the College of Business. “We want this to be the place where you build your career; a place where we nurture and support you.”
The Academy of Finance at Coral Reef Senior High offers students specialties in accounting, finance, international business, banking and economics. Currently, 470 students are enrolled in the program. Of those, 110 are seniors.
“This is an eye-opening experience for our students,” said Michelle Bolt, Career and Technical Education Department Chair at Coral Reef Senior High. “It’s very important because they’re making decisions about college and a lot of them are looking at business majors.”
Josh Nazario, one of the Coral Reef Senior High students visiting FIU, has submitted applications to several universities, including FIU. The panel discussions with current College of Business students, he noted, “was an “eye-opener to the realities that go into preparing for college and how best to maximize the opportunities available.”
“I’m surprised about the affordability of FIU and the quality of the education; it’s amazing,” said Nazario, who plans to major in finance and marketing. “Now I’m really looking at FIU as an option.”
