1. Why U.S. Business and Finance, Why UIUC?

This student enjoyed reading numbers and economic trends and had the goal of becoming an expert who solves social problems through finance. UIUC Gies College of Business has a solid alumni network and an environment where students can quickly make their individual career direction concrete, so UIUC became “the No. 1 school I want to go to.”

2. Why the Student Chose OneVision Among Several Study Abroad Agencies

The student says most of the consultations they received elsewhere were at the level of “a general school list + an explanation of requirements.” OneVision, on the other hand, deeply analyzed the student's personality, goals and current situation and designed a concrete roadmap suited to a finance career path, which was decisive. The student came to trust it as “not just a place that gives information, but a place that truly analyzes me,” and began preparing together with OneVision.

3. The Hardest Part of the Preparation Process

The biggest concern was time management, keeping up with school grades, the SAT and extracurriculars (EC) at the same time. In particular, the student had almost no experience with finance-related activities, so they felt lost about what to fill their portfolio with.

4. The Strategy Built with OneVision

OneVision designed a roadmap so that the student's vision, “I want to create social value through finance,” would connect to real experience.

• Planned the founding of an investment club at school and actually ran it, gaining leadership and investment experience at the same time
• Deepened understanding of macroeconomics and international financial structures by preparing to compete in the International Economics Olympiad
• Designed the essay's structure so that the vision “I want to create social value through finance” comes through naturally

5. The Biggest Growth the Student Felt While Preparing

The student says that by leading the investment club, they grew from a student who simply studied into a leader who heads a team. By doing market analysis and building portfolios on their own, their understanding of finance deepened, and the biggest change was developing “the ability to make decisions based on numbers.”

6. Memorable Moments in Essay Writing and the Application Process

The student said the experience of writing the UIUC essay, in which they analyzed the differences between the Korean and U.S. economic structures and laid out their own perspective, was especially memorable. The student says that once they connected “personal experience and a social perspective” through CEO Jay's feedback, the depth of the writing changed dramatically.

7. The Moment the Student Heard the Acceptance News

The student says that the moment they checked the UIUC Finance acceptance email, they cried together with their mother. Since it was not just an admission but came with a scholarship as well, the student summed it up as feeling like all the time they had put in was being rewarded.

8. To Younger Students Preparing for the Same Major

The student advises, “Be sure to create your own finance project.” The student emphasized that the process of learning by doing things yourself, such as mock investing, running an investment club and small projects, is important, and that those experiences ultimately complete your acceptance story.

9. What the Student Felt Set OneVision Apart While Preparing Together

The student remembers OneVision not as a “study abroad agency that just hands you tasks,” but as a partner that provided a hyper-personalized roadmap + psychological support at the same time. The student says that thanks to this, they were able to go all the way to the end while keeping their own pace, without excessive pressure.

10. Final Words the Student Wants to Share

Expressing gratitude to their parents, who always respected and supported their choices, the student closed the story with a resolution to become “a person with the expertise to solve social problems through finance.”