05/20/2026
The time has come to celebrate our amazing Class of 2026 🎉🎓
Meet Collin Feeney, an MPS in applied economics and management graduate student with a concentration in behavioral finance ⬇️
Question: What is a memory from your program that you’ll always carry with you?
Answer: "When I first arrived in August, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my master’s degree. There were hundreds of different career paths, but none truly resonated with me in the months leading up to the program. As I moved through orientation, surrounded by over a hundred students and staff, I came across Dr. Steve Shu, the Program Director. I mentioned that I was interested in consulting, but wasn’t sure where to begin.
He said, “Wait five minutes, I’ll be back.” He returned from his office with a copy of the book he wrote, The Consulting Apprenticeship. I went home and read it front to back. For the rest of my time at Cornell, I carried that book with me everywhere and used it as a guide, not just for consulting, but for life.
From that moment on, I knew I wanted to pursue consulting. More importantly, it showed me how genuinely supportive the Cornell community is. During one of the most competitive hiring cycles in finance and consulting in recent years, that simple interaction helped me find direction and grow into the professional I aspired to become. I will never forget that moment, and I hope that one day I can help others the same way Dr. Shu helped me."
Q: What is the most valuable thing you learned during your MPS, and how will you use this experience or knowledge in the future?
A: "One of the most impactful parts of my MPS experience has been taking MBA-level courses. Stepping into that setting pushed me to operate at a higher standard and adapt quickly to a faster-paced, more demanding environment. Learning directly from industry professionals gave me insight into how decisions are actually made, beyond what you see in a textbook."
Congrats, Collin!