Andrea Zapata

Home: Barranquilla, Colombia

School Year: Class of 2013

Major: Accounting and Finance

Languages spoken: Spanish, English

Campus Activities: Being an accounting major I am involved in the accounting fraternity Beta Alpha Psi where I will be treasurer this upcoming year (2012-2013). I also got the privilege of being accepted to the Portfolio Practicum class aimed for Finance majors in which we get the opportunity to manage Creighton?s $3 million portfolio of equity investments. Since fall semester 2011 I have been an intern in Creighton?s Internal Audit Department which has really helped strengthen my Accounting and Finance skills and also prepared me for work in the real world. All throughout my Creighton career I?ve been involved in various service activities, leadership organizations and international organizations. There are an immense number of opportunities to get involved both on campus and around Omaha, so I am sure you will find something for you in no time.

How I learned about Creighton: My high school counselor recommended Creighton thinking it was a good fit for me. I started researching about the university and I found out that it is well ranked and that it has many excellent programs for almost every area of study. There is also a student here from my same high school just a year older than I who told me wonders about Creighton. In addition, I got to meet Creighton's former International Admissions counselor, David McCauley who came to a college fair in Barranquilla, early fall of 2008. He clarified all my doubts and made like Creighton even more.

What was most important in making my decision to come to Creighton: Primarily, size. It was very important to me to be able to get to know my teachers and have them know me as well. I like to be able to get to know the people in my classes and interact with them, not just sit in a huge auditorium and listen to a lecture. Also I feel that with small classes it is easier to speak up, ask questions and therefore understand and learn better the material. In Creighton class sizes are ideal for this, about 15 to 25 students on most classes, so it fit perfectly to what I was looking for.

Has your family visited and their of Creighton and Omaha?: Yes, my whole family had the opportunity to come here and toured Omaha and Creighton. Initially we did not know what to expect from a place like Nebraska which we hadn't heard a lot about. However, I can speak for them and say that they were very impressed with Creighton and with Omaha. The first impression once you get out of the airport is breathtaking, the lake, trees and scenery is beautiful. So since the first moment we set foot in Omaha, we were delighted. Then, after touring Creighton and visiting the different buildings and facilities students, my parents were convinced that I would get an excellent education when coming here.