The Emory Pre-Business Society was chartered last year as a much-needed resource for underclassmen. The society caters primarily to undergraduate students who are considering enrollment in the Goizueta Business School.   

Prior to its inception, the career management center at Goizueta was the only advisory outlet in this discipline, only accessible to students enrolled in the B-school.

The Pre-Business Society formed in spring 2013. It functions “to organize and to educate” Emory’s pre-business students by providing them with opportunities and skills to help them succeed, according to the club’s handout.

Unlike most other clubs, the Pre-Business Society operates primarily by offering workshops, hosting alumni and generally helping underclassmen master the ropes of Emory’s business program.

Matt Hershenhorn, College sophomore and vice president of the Pre-Business Society, explained that the group is more of a peer mentoring program than anything else. Last spring, the group organized several seminars, which ranged from teaching students how to interview successfully for a potential job to building and formatting a professional resume.

The executive officers of the club are available to students who might seek council when it comes to questions about the B-school.

“Sometimes students just need clarification, such as the difference between things like finance, accounting and consulting,” College sophomore Rebecca Blei and club event coordinator said.

So far, all executive officers of the club have enrolled or will be enrolling in the B-school. Freshmen will fill their positions in the spring semester of the academic year and serve through the fall semester of the following year. The executive members feel this fosters a unique and committed relationship between freshmen and the officers who are only one year apart.

Although the Pre-Business Society is a relatively new club, it is working to make an impact on campus. In its first semester, the club coordinated a seniors’ night during which B-school seniors met and talked with freshmen to provide them with valuable information about Goizueta and encourage networking between Emory students.

The club also hosted an Emory alumnus who is currently working as an investment banker on Wall Street.

Club membership has nearly tripled from last year, attracting roughly 100 students to its events, according to College sophomore and Pre-Business Society President Sumaali Chheda. The executive officers hope that the club will maintain its commitment to helping freshmen and sophomores interested in business while also adapting to the needs of their members. They expect membership in the group to rise steadily in the years ahead.

– By Charles Kimball 

Emory Wheel
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The Emory Wheel was founded in 1919 and is currently the only independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University. The Wheel publishes weekly on Wednesdays during the academic year, except during University holidays and scheduled publication intermissions.

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