Interview with Quinn O’Connor, Gettysburg College

Interviewer: Awesome. I’m really excited about today’s chat. We’ve got Quinn joining us from Gettysburg College. I think I mentioned this when we last talked while you were in the UK—I had three cousins go to Gettysburg, and they all tried to recruit me to go. It wasn’t in the cards for me, but I know it’s an amazing place, and I’m really excited to hear about your experience. So just to give a quick background for listeners: You’re pursuing a career in energy and have academic interests in business, environmental studies, and data science. I was actually curious how all of that fits together—because it’s a lot! But first, let’s go back to the beginning. How did you end up at Gettysburg?

Quinn: Yeah, absolutely. I only looked at smaller schools. I knew from the start I didn’t want to be just another number in a massive lecture hall. That personal connection between student and professor is really important to me—and Gettysburg, with only about 2,000 undergrads, offers exactly that. Every class I’ve taken, I’ve had the opportunity to build strong connections with professors—in and out of the classroom—especially during office hours. That’s something you really only get at a school like Gettysburg.

Interviewer: Makes total sense.

Quinn: My process was a bit different because it was during COVID. I applied to several schools, but Gettysburg was one of the few I could actually visit in person. I’m from Connecticut, and the New England recruiter was great—very transparent, very honest about everything the school had to offer. We were visiting other schools in the area—Bucknell, Lafayette, F&M—and when we got to Gettysburg, we walked into the admin office, and they offered us a private tour on the spot, even though we didn’t have anything scheduled. That was a great first impression, and everything just clicked. When December 10th rolled around, I knew it was the right choice.

Interviewer: That’s great. So you mentioned a few important things—school size, community feel, and that personal connection during the admissions process. And it sounds like you kind of lucked out with being able to tour during COVID?

Quinn: Yeah, I don’t think there was a big policy difference—it was more luck. We just happened to be in the area at the right time.

Interviewer: Very cool. So you get to Gettysburg, you’re settling in your first year—was the transition to college smoother than expected?

Quinn: Honestly, yeah. Any bumps in the road, the school was prepared to help with. The transition was made easier through social events. One unique thing Gettysburg does is that for the first two or three days of orientation, only first-years are on campus—no upperclassmen. It really gives you a chance to meet people and explore without distractions.

Interviewer: That’s such a smart setup. Did you come in knowing your major?

Quinn: Not exactly. I knew I wanted something related to finance, business, and econ. Gettysburg recently approved a finance major and several new ones this year. I ended up choosing business after talking with the heads of both departments. I really connected with the management professors. Even when they’re not teaching me anymore, I still feel comfortable going to them for advice—even about other classes. Professor Odulduso, for example, was incredibly helpful in one of my more intense classes last semester.

Interviewer: That’s awesome. Have you noticed that business faculty are also really connected in their fields?

Quinn: Definitely. And part of the business major here includes econ classes, which is great. For example, my finance course was technically an econ class, and it taught me skills like Excel, DCF analysis, and financial formatting. The liberal arts foundation actually enhances the business curriculum here.

Interviewer: I love hearing that. And what about extracurriculars—when did you start getting involved?

Quinn: Right away. I joined a bunch of clubs immediately. El Centro was one—I’d help local Hispanic kids with homework in Spanish, which was tied to the Spanish department. I also joined GECO, the environmental group, since I’m minoring in environmental studies and want to tie that into my future in energy.

Interviewer: So you know Spanish?

Quinn: I used to. I was basically bilingual up through my sophomore year, but now that I’m not taking classes, it’s kind of faded.

Interviewer: I get that. Same thing happened with me and French. If you don’t use it, you lose it. But it’s still great you had that foundation. Let’s talk about the community at Gettysburg—what’s campus life like?

Quinn: It’s very interconnected, even with the town. One of the most memorable moments was the First Year Walk—you walk from the center of campus to where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. The whole town lines the streets to cheer you on. It really makes you feel like part of something special. Right now, I live off campus, but it’s still only a 40-second walk. There’s always something happening—whether through the school or Greek life.

Interviewer: Are you involved in Greek life?

Quinn: Yeah—I’m in Lambda Chi Alpha, and I highly recommend Greek life to anyone coming here. It’s a great way to get involved socially and through philanthropy. Last summer, we went to our national General Assembly in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was amazing—stayed at a five-star hotel, passed legislation for the fraternity. Professionally, it also helped—I got my first internship through a Lambda alum.

Interviewer: Oh, wow. Where was that internship?

Quinn: The first one was at MVB Bank in Reston. The alum didn’t work there but helped me get connected in the field. Then this past winter, I interned at Summit Ridge Energy in Arlington, Virginia. Steve Raeder, the CEO, is a Gettysburg alum. I was a business development intern—loved it, learned a ton. Hoping to go back.

Interviewer: That’s fantastic. So, those are your two main internships?

Quinn: Yep. And they’ve been huge for my professional development.

Interviewer: What’s your take on internships in general? Still the best way to bridge classroom and career?

Quinn: Absolutely. Gettysburg encourages it too. I’m actually taking one less class this semester because of past internships. Your advisor can interview you about your experience, and if they think the learning outcomes match a class, you get credit for it.

Interviewer: That’s huge. And how did you find those internships—just applying cold?

Quinn: Mainly through LinkedIn and reaching out to alums. I reach out to a lot of people—follow up with them regularly. Even now, I’ve got calls with Gettysburg alums working in energy, just to share updates and keep in touch.

Interviewer: Any advice for students—high school or early undergrad—who are trying to figure out their path?

Quinn: Try it all. I thought I wanted to go into energy from the start, but my first internship was in banking and data analytics. I ended up discovering a love for data, which led me to add a data science minor. So even if you don’t stick with something, it can still help shape your direction.

Interviewer: Any family influence in your career path?

Quinn: My dad’s a finance guy, so there’s a little influence. But this path is mostly my own. I’ve done tons of research and really love the energy space.

Interviewer: Any siblings?

Quinn: I have a younger sister—she’s a freshman at Colgate.

Interviewer: Got it. And one last thing—you mentioned being in the UK when we first connected. What inspired that study abroad trip?

Quinn: I went to London as part of a hybrid program through Gettysburg. The first three weeks were in the city, fulfilling some curriculum credits, and then we moved up north to Lancaster University. They’ve got a great business and environmental science program, so I was able to get some major credits done while also traveling all over Europe on weekends.

Interviewer: That sounds incredible. Any interest in working abroad one day?

Quinn: Definitely. I loved Amsterdam—probably my favorite place I visited. And they’ve got some great energy projects going on over there.

Interviewer: That’s awesome. So to wrap it all up—we’ve covered community, curriculum, and career. Is there a moment or experience from your time at Gettysburg that stands out as the most rewarding?

Quinn: Honestly, just seeing everything I’ve worked on come full circle. From internships to building strong relationships with professors—it’s all starting to pay off. I was recently inducted into Order of Omega, the national Greek life honor society. And professors are now reaching out to me with connections. That kind of support is really rewarding. They’re not paid to go the extra mile—but they do.

Interviewer: That’s incredible. And in your own way, you’re doing the same—sharing your journey and helping others learn from it. I’ll just end by saying, if you’ve been listening, Quinn is ready for work and very hireable! Appreciate your time so much, and I know students will get a ton of value from this.

Quinn: I’m always happy to help.