Hayley Bush came to Purdue after being recruited to play volleyball. She’s leaving with a master’s degree in finance from the Krannert School of Management.
“Purdue started recruiting me when I was only 15 years old, and I made the commitment before the end of my sophomore year,” she says. “Everyone made me feel like part of a family.”
Bush began her studies in veterinary medicine, but soon switched to agricultural finance. “I’ve always wanted to work in the food and beverage industry, so that seemed like a good path to get me there,” she says. “And I was already planning to attend graduate school, so I wanted my undergraduate degree to be something a bit different than my master’s degree.”
During her time on the volleyball team under Coach Dave Shondell, Bush was named an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, a VolleyballMag.com Third Team All-American, and First Team All-Big Ten. Her classroom performance was equally stellar, earning her Academic All-Big Ten honors.
“Being a student-athlete has taught me how to manage my time and work as part of team,” she says. “That’s been really important in the MS Finance program, which has a lot of group projects. The course content is also more difficult, but the professors are very helpful and encouraging.”
As a proud Boilermaker, Bush shares the grit and determination displayed by her teammates and classmates. “I think that’s something unique to Purdue,” she says. “Hard work is part of our makeup.”
Bush’s graduate studies have involved numerous case studies, which allow students to address real-life business challenges. “Case studies help you develop your problem-solving and presentation skills and give you information that you never thought you'd know,” she says. “I feel like I've been learning a lot.”
After graduation, Bush joined Procter & Gamble’s baby-care division as a financial analyst. “I booked two meetings with P&G’s recruitment team during the School of Management Employers Forum (SMEF), and both interviews went very well,” she says. “I feel like my master’s degree has set me up for success.”
Another positive sign for Bush’s future is her place among Krannert’s global network of alumni. “I meet someone from Purdue wherever I go,” she says. “It’s great to be a part of that community.”
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