Student Spotlight: Bryce Marion
May 20, 2018
Meet Bryce Marion (BS '18), MS&E graduating senior.
Bryce plans to purse a career in consulting. He is passionate about solving open-ended problems and enjoys working with people, two ingredients that are key drivers to choosing a career in consulting.
"Embrace the struggle. We come to Stanford because it's an institution that can push us to a place in which we are uncomfortable-out of our depth. These experiences will come to bear the most fruit once you've moved on from this time in life."
Why did you choose Stanford MS&E?
MS&E made itself clear as the major for me after I'd taken MS&E 178 and MS&E 111. I realized that I thoroughly enjoyed the foundation of linear algebra that most of the mathematics was rooted in, and appreciated the business/entrepreneur side of the major as well. Not to mention, when I considered potential occupations after school, MS&E prepared me best to seek the jobs that interested me most.
What are your career plans and how did you decide on them?
I plan on pursuing a career in consulting. I chose this path because I genuinely enjoy solving open-ended problems. Consulting offers me the opportunity to be exposed to a myriad of these challenges. Combined with my passion to solve problems and my love for working with people, consulting is a natural avenue for me to continue to pursue not only things I'm passionate about, but to enjoy that pursuit as well.
What advice do you have for students?
My only advice would be to embrace the struggle. I feel that at some point, everyone at Stanford has difficult times and it's in those times when we find out the most about ourselves. This is pertinent, really, to every facet of college life. After learning to revel in my challenges, I became better equipped to handle the many more that were to subsequently come. Especially during my first year, I felt that struggling was an indication that I didn't belong, that I was inadequate—this couldn't be further from the truth. We come to Stanford because it's an institution that can push us to a place in which we are uncomfortable—out of our depth. If you don' feel encouraged to continuously improve, then as a university Stanford has failed you. Do not be embarrassed or shy away from demanding circumstances. These experiences will come to bear the most fruit once you've moved on from this time in life.
What other activities are you involved with on and off campus?
I was recruited to play soccer and have been on the varsity men's team for the entirety of my time here at Stanford. Also, I am currently on the executive board of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and a previous member of both the Blyth fund and Stanford Finance Club.
What would you tell your freshman self?
I'd tell myself to make sure you stop and soak up everything Stanford has to offer. At times, it's easy to get caught up in the incredibly fast-paced and busy lives that students lead, but it's important to just enjoy yourself. I didn't really have a full understanding of the concept that college was going to end. It's important to realize that this is a time that should be treasured and taken advantage of because, like most things, it is fleeting.