For economics major, university pays dividends

March 09, 2010

Two excelling schools – Brown University and Arizona State University – were among Benjamin Sanchez's top college choices. Sanchez ultimately chose ASU and has never looked back.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>“There’s nothing that I feel I’m missing at ASU," Sanchez said. "There are things that I never thought I would love – like PAC-10 athletics.”<separator></separator> <separator></separator>As a Barrett Honors College freshman, Sanchez chose ASU because of the university’s programs. Currently an economics major, he is planning on expanding his academic studies in future years to encompass a double major and graduate school.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>He also is grateful to be attending a school where academic advising and an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies makes a double major both possible and easily accessible.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>“The opportunities here are far more than I expected,” Sanchez said. Included in that assessment are professors throughout ASU who are “immensely passionate” about what they do and the students they teach.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>From brilliant students to dedicated professors, Sanchez counts himself lucky to be attending a school where so many people genuinely care about him. He cites his admissions officer, Amanda Dale, as his inspiration to join the Student Admissions Relations Team that focuses on ASU recruiting events and services.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>“She really helped me through the process,” Sanchez said. “I want to make sure that other students look at ASU, because I had such a good experience.”<separator></separator> <separator></separator>Sanchez ultimately plans to become involved in politics by advocating for private citizens when he finishes his studies, including a year abroad when he will study in South Korea and Spain.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>“There are a lot of people advocating on the behalf of corporations and not a lot on the part of regular citizens,” he said.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>When he’s not going to class, studying or running for exercise, Sanchez participates in seven student organizations. Besides the work and fun that go into the organizations, he enjoys benefits such as attending W. P. Carey School of Business faculty mixers where he chats about economics with Nobel laureate and ASU Regents' Professor Edward Prescott. He also recently organized a walk-a-thon to benefit brain tumor research through the Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research group.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>“It’s been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun,” he said.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>Being involved in so many groups gives him the opportunity to meet new people at the university, a place where he always runs into friends on campus.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>“I feel like I’m in a place that I know, that feels comfortable,” Sanchez said.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>Growing up in Phoenix gave Sanchez an appreciation for the area and for ASU. His mother attended the university, but ASU is definitely not the same school that his mother attended, Sanchez said.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>From expanded research opportunities for students brought in by ASU President Michael Crow in recent years to the establishment of Barrett, the Honors College, ASU offers a great education while the university works on addressing some of the world’s largest problems, Sanchez added.<separator></separator> <separator></separator>“ASU has exceeded my expectations,” he said.

Business W. P. Carey School of Business