As a punter for the University of Kentucky football team, Landon Foster was a Freshman All-American. After graduation, he aimed to make his mark on a bigger field: Finance.

Vanderbilt had everything he was looking for—starting with the high ranking of the MS Finance program and a reputation as the top finance program among graduate business schools in the U.S.

Landon also sought “a more extensive and quality alumni base in the field I wanted to pursue.” At Vanderbilt, he says, he found “the best of both worlds—access to great professors but access to MBAs in the same building.”

He found that the school offered numerous opportunities to build his connections both inside and outside the classroom. Among other things, he became a senator in the Owen Student Government Association, took on a leadership role in his Launching the Venture class, took part in the Humans of Owen storytelling project, and enjoyed the weekly Closing Bell gatherings whenever possible.

Landon also found that the culture at Owen was not unlike that of a football team; it “promotes collegiality and competitiveness at the same time,” he says. You “must be a high achiever and self-motivated but also understand that you cannot reach your greatest potential alone. You will become a better and more well-equipped business professional through the classes, but more importantly, by the incredible people you are surrounded by—the faculty, career management team, classmates, and alumni.”

As he headed for Wall Street after graduation, Landon says, “I am coming out of the MSF program a much more professional, prepared, and well-networked future finance professional than before.”

Fun Fact: Landon, who trained for the Nashville Half Marathon during his year at Vanderbilt, loves skiing, reading, and working out.

“You will become a better and more well-equipped business professional through the classes, but more importantly, by the incredible people you are surrounded by.”