Why CMU? Anonymous

My mother’s rehearsed speech about how “Tiffany became interested in business because I took her along to see my financial advisor” is not entirely true. Although I found my mother’s financial consultation sessions interesting and felt flattered when her advisor offered me an internship, my interest in business actually began with my involvement in Kiva, a microfinance organization.

I started making monthly loans with my personal savings and income from Cosh(ex), my calculator program startup. In three years, I watched $342 multiply with ease to $750. The personal side of microfinance is even more impressive than its numerical aspect. In two years, I watched Kiva expand its influence in higher education. To date, 77% of my loans are to education, which is the ticket out of poverty and the solution to discrimination—the ultimate cure-all. Not coincidentally, I am applying to the Tepper School of Business, a school focused on solving global problems, for higher education. Although there is no microfinance club at Tepper, it does have the Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Association, where I hope to gain hands-on experience before ultimately becoming a social entrepreneur.

Another way I hope to make a difference is through improving...