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Ryan Schmitz

Where are you in your education at Loyola/Quinlan?
I am a second semester senior majoring in Supply Chain Management, and I am currently enrolled in the five-year MBA program.

When do you finish and what do you hope to do after graduation?
I will graduate in May with my undergraduate degree and will graduate with an MBA next spring. I hope to continue living in Chicago and have started a career in Logistics once I am finished with graduate school.

What are your career goals?
I want to be able to have a career that allows me to travel around the world. There is so much knowledge and personal growth that can be gained from immersing yourself in different cultures and I want to be able to experience that fully.

What made you choose Loyola for pursuing undergraduate education? What made you choose to study business at Quinlan?
I originally chose Loyola after my first campus visit. Within ten minutes of walking around I felt at home and knew that this was going to be the place for me. I also liked the fact it was close to downtown Chicago where there would be a lot of internship and job opportunities. I chose to study business because I was good at math but hated Calculus, and numbers always made more sense to me than Shakespeare or Biology. 

What stands out to you regarding your education at Loyola/Quinlan?
For me, it has always been the professors. They are so open and willing to help with whatever you need, be it professional or even personal advice. Another reason I chose Loyola is because I knew I would be able to develop strong relationships with the professors due to the small class size, and I could not have been more correct. I want to take a moment and give a massive thank you to Dr. Hewitt, who has made an incredibly positive impact on my academic and professional growth. He showed me how to challenge myself and gave me opportunities I could not be more thankful for, like the chance to speak at a professional conference about a model I made in his class. Dr. Hewitt truly invests in his students and it shows. 

What would you recommend to someone who is just starting at Loyola/Quinlan?
Be open-minded. I came into Loyola as an undecided Business major. Four major changes and a ton of phone calls with my parents later, I am getting a degree in a field I am absolutely fascinated with. If you don't like what you are studying, you can change it! Just keep trying new things until you find something you enjoy and run with it. Loyola will support you through your decision making and graduate you as a well-rounded person, no matter your major.