In a sense, Brad Cerasuolo wasn’t going back into a classroom when he decided to pursue his MBA. For the last 32 months of an eight year career in the U.S. Navy, Brad oversaw a division of highly trained instructors who provided graduate-level education in math and physics for officers preparing to work aboard nuclear-powered naval vessels.

As he began the transition to civilian life, he knew he would probably need an MBA at some point in his career. It made sense, he thought, to go straight from the Navy to a graduate business program.

In his first year at Vanderbilt, Brad, who plans to establish a career in consulting, became a member of the Armed Forces Club, the Japanese Business Club, the Strategy and Consulting Club, and the Adam Smith Society. He also enjoyed taking part in case competitions. Among the year’s highlights, he recalls, were winning a case competition sponsored by Deloitte and reaching the finals of a national competition.

But the biggest highlight, he says, involved competition of a different sort—the recruitment process for consulting internships that involved his own classmates. “Being surrounded by a group of awesome and supportive people, a group that was rooting for each other, made it a lot of fun,” Brad says.

“The people I get to associate with here helped push me and make me better, which allowed me to get the internship offer I received [with Insight Sourcing Group in Atlanta]. I can’t overstate the sense of community with a smaller class. You just can’t find it at bigger schools like you can here.”

Fun Fact: During a trip to Italy, Brad spent a day drinking Cerasuolo wine in the town of Cerasuolo.

“The people I get to associate with here helped push me and make me better, which allowed me to get the internship offer I received.”