My Cornell exchange experience
By Kevin Mok
Class of 2023
BBA in Global Business & Finance
In spring semester 2022, I went on an academic exchange at Cornell University’s Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. Overall, I enjoyed my experience to a great extent here. I got to meet many incredible people, especially those who share the same passion and interest as me. At the same time, the quality of education was high, and the Professors were friendly and knowledgeable.
The four courses I took at Dyson School were VBA Programming, Risk Simulation, International Finance Management, and Corporate Finance. I am thrilled to have taken the VBA class, given Cornell’s strengths in coding-related courses. On top of that, the Risk Simulation class has been a fascinating course. It is my first time using the @Risk software to conduct Monte Carlo simulations. This course opened my eyes to how we can use simulations and iterations to perform financial analysis and execute financial projections and modeling.
On the other hand, the course on International Finance Management served as a good reminder of the concepts I have previously learned regarding derivatives and foreign exchange rates while building upon it to learn more about international absolute and relative purchasing power parities. These aroused my interest in learning more about global financial markets and monetary authorities worldwide.
Regarding the Corporate Finance course, I understood more about corporate finance basics, such as capital budgeting and discounted cash flow analysis. What I like about this class is that it not only discusses the theories about financial modeling but also ties to real-life deal types such as Initial Public Offerings and Mergers and Acquisitions. In one session, the Professor even invited a global partner from EY’s Transactions Advisory team, who provided immense insights into the industry. I thoroughly enjoyed this class.
Lastly, I must talk about the people aspect of the exchange, where I have learned the most and had the most takeaways. Given Cornell’s size, I have met many people from different backgrounds; some share the same aspiration as I do, whereas others might be aiming for other pathways. Yet, they all share similarities; they are all very friendly and helpful in helping me adapt to the Cornell lifestyle while offering me love and support. Therefore, I am delighted to have made lifelong friends throughout this experience, and I believe I will go back to the US to visit them soon if circumstances permit.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this exchange experience, and if I could make the same choice again, I would choose the same courses and go to Cornell University again.
