“Soccer doesn’t define me, but is a part of my identity”
Morgan Rogers
Class of 2021
Major: Business Administration
UC Berkeley Women’s Soccer
1. What is something you wish you did differently during your undergraduate experience at Berkeley?
I was extremely focused on Haas, always searching for internships and jobs that I didn’t allocate enough time for myself. I would go from working out, then straight to school, and then to my job. It all helped with Haas but looking back on it I wish I could have gone abroad and had these memories like these.
2. What is something you wish you told your freshman year self?
Something I wish I told my freshman year self is that soccer is not everything. Coming in as freshman I was so worried about living up to expectations I had in regards to the amount of playing time I got, whether I was a starter, and if I traveled or not. As time went on, I came to the realization that there is so much more to college than just soccer.
Snapshot of Morgan in action on the soccer field.
3. What was your experience like academically and career wise and as an athlete as a young woman?
It was very hard especially during the Haas application time period. My season was in full effect during application months. I went from traveling to Colorado to SoCal the next while juggling midterms and working on my Haas application. .
I was stressed coming into Cal. Knowing I got in for my athletic ability. It made me feel really intimidated. However, as my years here continued I had a change in mentally. I realized that I was just as smart as everyone, even if I got in originally for athletics, and that I could accomplish anything I put my mind to. Nothing came easy for me. I worked really hard. I never said no to help and used all the resources Berkeley had to offer such as tutors. I always did what had to be done no matter how difficult it seemed.
4. What are you most excited about for your new journey at Apple? What will you be doing there?
I am excited to work with Apple’s financial development program. Over the summer I was placed on a team for 3 months. If they liked you and the work you did they would ask you to come back for a full time offer. Luckily, I got this return offer. For the future, I will switch between finance departments every 3 months. Then I will get to pick the finance section in which I liked the most. I am excited for this rotational program since I get to spend two years not tied down to anything in particular. This will allow me to continue learning and growing.
5. How was your experience applying to Haas? What advice would you give young women applying to Haas this year?
My Number 1 advice for students applying to Haas is that Haas is not looking for a cookie-cutter applicant with 4.0 who wants business and consulting. They are looking for someone who wants to change the world. They are looking for someone who possesses the 4 pillars. I would recommend to not just say what you want to do, but also show it through your experiences.
Overall, Haas isn't the end all be all. It is great and impressive for sure, but Berkeley has an amazing Economic department and just saying you went to Berkeley is amazing in itself.
interview by Natalie Weiner ’23
design by Carolyn Lu ’24