After reviewing 280 applications and interviewing 150+ students this February and March, QUEST welcomed 90 new students to Cohorts 33 and 34! I got a chance to speak with a few of them:
Jack Liang (Q33)
Jack Liang is an aerospace engineering major from Silver Spring. Jack applied to QUEST to branch out of engineering and get to work with people from different majors.
“I’m going to have to learn how to work with and interact with people of different specialties and backgrounds, so why not do it now with an entire cohort of smart, ambitious, and talented people?”
Jack is looking forward to studying abroad and hopes to take BMGT489L: Japan: From Quality Past to Automated Future in his junior year with fellow QUEST students. In his free time, he loves dancing, going to boxing club and sparring with his friends. He is also involved in Theta Tau and currently serves as a Professional Greek Council Representative.
Angela Chien (Q33)
Angela Chien is an incoming member of Cohort 33 majoring in finance and management. Angela wanted to join QUEST because of the great things she heard about it from her friends.
“I like how you form really close friends within this tight-knit environment and learn transferable skills you probably wouldn’t be able to in your other traditional classes.”
Angela is particularly excited for QUEST electives like BMGT408C: Quality Web Development in Business and the study abroad opportunities with QUEST. Angela enjoys traveling and has lived in four different places. Outside of school, she likes binge-watching shows on Netflix and hanging out with her friends. She’s also involved in Sigma Psi Zeta, a sorority on campus, and the Taiwanese American Student Association.
Morgan Hoffman (Q34)
Morgan Hoffman is a mechanical engineering major from Baltimore. Morgan applied to QUEST to get the opportunity to learn and apply business skills to help real companies.
“I’m most looking forward to meeting everyone in my cohort and being able to work and learn with students from outside the engineering school in multidisciplinary teams.”
Morgan likes hiking and spending time outside, especially as the weather gets warmer. Over the summer she is backpacking for 3 weeks in Europe with her roommate. They plan on traveling to 9 different countries. Outside of her engineering classes, Morgan is in Engineering World Health and pledging Theta Tau, a professional engineering fraternity.
Advaith Bantval (Q34)
Advaith Bantval is an incoming member of Cohort 34 majoring in engineering. Advaith applied to QUEST to have the opportunity to work with people of different backgrounds.
“I think there’s a huge benefit in diversity within teams, and that’s the kind of community QUEST nurtures because it adds an extra level of diversity that I wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to in my engineering classes. Through QUEST, I can interact with business and CMNS students too.”
Advaith is looking forward to the teamwork aspect of the classes and getting to work with professional partners. He’s also excited for the study abroad opportunities within QUEST and learning about business and technology in unique environments. Outside of school, Advaith likes hanging out with friends, trying new foods, and listening to music. He has played percussion all his life and enjoys international relations, policy and debate. On campus, he is involved in Theta Tau, Coffeehouse Debate, and Model Congress.
Mina Shahmirzadi (Q34)
Mina Shahmirzadi is a business major from Rockville, Maryland. Mina applied to QUEST because she wanted to find a community of like-minded and motivated students. She also wants to expand her network and interact with people outside of the business school.
“I really want to take the ‘Doing Business in Asia’ elective over one of my winter terms. It seems like a unique opportunity to learn about a new culture while bonding with my QUEST peers.”
Outside of school, Mina likes to play soccer and plays on an intramural team. She is also a member of Alpha Xi Delta, a sorority on campus, and is looking to run for a leadership position within the organization next year.
Congrats to all of our newly admitted QUESTees!
