Ralph Caputo was attracted to the Vanderbilt MSF by the program’s high rankings, small size and prestigious name. But when he visited the campus and decided to enroll, he says his choice was based, more than anything else, on an “instinctive feeling” that it would be a good fit for him.

As he met students and staff on the campus, he explains, “I quickly fell in love with the faculty, staff and current students. I loved the balance between the academics and career management side, and I felt like I could accomplish all of my goals at this school.”

Over the year he spent at Vanderbilt, Ralph believes his instincts guided him well. “I was able to take classes that were directly in line with my job function,” he says, “and learned relevant skills that I could take with me. Networking with professionals taught me a great deal about business communication that I did not gain from my undergraduate institution. And the Career Management Center was instrumental in helping me develop a game plan and land a job in my targeted industry.”

Now, he says, “I’m much more prepared for the workforce after going through this program. I’m confident in my ability to add value to my job from day one.”

In fact, Ralph became such a believer in the program that he served as a Campus Visit Coordinator who helped welcome prospective students the way he had been welcomed. “I really liked giving back to the program,” he says, “and this was a great way to do that.”

Fun Fact: An avid sports fan, Ralph saw every game that LeBron James played between the 2012 and 2015 seasons.

"The Career Management Center was instrumental in helping me develop a game plan and land a job in my targeted industry.”