When Brian Ellis arrived at Brigham Young University-Idaho, he set out to prepare for opportunities beyond graduation. This spring, that preparation culminated in his acceptance into the University of Chicago Booth Scholars Program, one of the nation's most competitive deferred MBA programs.
Ellis, who graduates this semester with a bachelor's degree in industrial and organizational psychology and a minor in business analytics credits his success to consistent academic habits, faculty mentorship, campus resources, and faith in Jesus Christ.
Brian’s acceptance into the program came as a result of not only his own hard work, but his willingness to seek help and utilize the various resources found on campus. He largely credited his time spent at the Tutoring Center as one of the key elements to his success.
“Believe it or not, it was integral for me... in terms of increasing my likelihood of success after school to maintain a high GPA,” Brian said. “As of now, I still have a 4.0. but that would not have been the case without the Tutoring Center. Utilizing that to its fullest, especially in classes that are relatively test heavy, is something that helped me out a lot.”
Along with assistance from the Tutoring Center, Brian received integral support from his teachers.
“You will attend classes [here] in which there are 25 students total ... and that one-on-one time or small group time with the professor is something you don't get at most universities,” Brian commented. “Those professors are genuinely invested in you and your success.... I'm very, very grateful for the mentorship that I've received from many of them.”
Brian elaborated on the importance of setting goals throughout college and sticking to healthy routines. “Throughout my time here, I've attempted to set goals every Sunday,” he said. “[I] start my week off with those as a vision for how my week will proceed. Then I have something to work toward.”
Brian also emphasized the importance of always putting God first and trusting in His plan.
“Put Heavenly Father first,” he said. “Involve Him in all that you do, and everything will kind of fall into place.”
As he prepares for graduate school, Ellis hopes future BYU-Idaho students will focus on steady, daily improvement.
“Put first things first,” he said. “It is worth putting in an effort to learn what you are supposed to be learning. It is worth doing the small and simple things, even when they may be tedious or boring.”