Interview with Emmet Shuman, Colorado College

Interviewer: Today we have Emmet Shuman joining us from Colorado College. I’m super excited to have you here. I know you’re really busy—we were just catching up, and you’ve got a couple of months left before diving into your summer plans. Just to give a quick background: you’re at Colorado College, majoring in Mathematical Economics with a Computer Science minor. You’re also the president of the Consulting Club, which is really cool. I also saw something about your interest in Nordic skiing, so we’d love to hear more about that as well. There are a few reasons I wanted to reach out—you’re involved in a lot, and you’ve gained great experience already as a junior. With just one year left before graduation, we’re excited to hear about your journey—how you got to where you are, what your college experience has been like, and where you’re headed next.

So, we’ll kick things off with the first question I always ask: how did you end up at Colorado College? We’d love to hear about that process.

Emmet: Great! Well, thank you for having me—I really appreciate it. I initially developed an interest in Colorado College because of its unique educational model. Unlike most liberal arts colleges and universities that follow a traditional semester schedule, Colorado College uses a unique academic structure called the block plan, where you take one class at a time for four weeks. You go through eight of these blocks per year. I find it to be a really immersive and focused environment—it allows you to dive deep into one subject instead of juggling multiple classes at once. Yeah, that’s one of the things that first drew me to CC. Academically, it felt like a great fit.

Interviewer: Did you look at a lot of other colleges too, or was it clear that you wanted something more flexible, like what CC offers?

Emmet: I did consider a lot of liberal arts schools. I knew I wanted that smaller college feel because I really value the sense of community. It’s nice to get to know a large part of your class—it just feels more personal. Eventually, I narrowed it down to some of the top liberal arts institutions, and the block plan at CC really stood out to me. It was something different, and I was intrigued.

Interviewer: And remind me—where are you from again?

Emmet: My family’s from Wyoming, and my extended family is mostly in the New England area.

Interviewer: Ah, so you’re kind of spread out—Wyoming’s not exactly coastal, but you’re familiar with both ends of the country.

Emmet: Yeah, exactly.

Interviewer: I’m familiar with the West, but it’s such a vast area that being “familiar” doesn’t necessarily mean much—there are so many different directions you can go.

Were you looking at other colleges in Colorado too, or was it really all about that academic plan you mentioned?

Emmet: It was really about Colorado College’s academic structure. That’s what drew me in. Not that I don’t appreciate being in Colorado—it’s a beautiful state with a lot to offer—but it was this specific school that caught my attention.

Interviewer: Got it, so very much an academic decision. I was just learning more about the block plan myself, and as you know, I’ve worked closely with your team to connect mine with Colorado College. Planning around that academic calendar has been interesting since it’s so different from the traditional semester system, but I think it’s such a great approach.

So last question on the application side—did you have a lot of support when you were applying? Like an advisor through your high school or your family?

Emmet: Yeah, I actually had a family connection to an advisor who helped me through the process.

Interviewer: Oh, nice! So kind of outside of school support?

Emmet: Yeah it wasn’t really through my high school.

Interviewer: Very cool. I did something similar—a family friend helped me through the process. And I try not to repeat myself in these conversations, but I always think of how my advisor told me I’d never get into the school I ended up attending. It’s funny how that works out. They were helpful with essays, but it just goes to show that those predictions aren’t always accurate. I’m glad you had someone to guide you—that kind of support really makes a difference.

Alright, so you chose Colorado College, and it chose you back, which is always exciting. What was the transition like during your first year? Was it what you expected? Any surprises along the way?

Emmet: Yeah, coming into Colorado College, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I was transitioning from a traditional academic setup with multiple classes each day to the block plan, which was a big shift. On top of that, I wrapped up high school during the COVID pandemic, so I didn’t feel as prepared for what college would actually look like. That makes sense—it’s tough to track where people were in school during COVID. Some were finishing high school online, others started college that way, and it definitely impacted how prepared you felt going in.

Interviewer: Exactly.

Emmet: But CC did a great job welcoming students and creating a solid first-year experience. Thankfully, my freshman year started after the vaccines had rolled out, and things were mostly back to normal. So my first year actually felt like a pretty standard college experience. I got to meet a lot of people in my class—I feel like I know just about everyone to some extent. I also had the chance to explore different departments, which is one of the big benefits of a liberal arts education.

Interviewer: That’s awesome. So when did you start getting involved in clubs? Was that something you jumped into right away?

Emmet: I started exploring clubs a little bit during my freshman year, just to get a feel for what was out there. But it wasn’t until sophomore year that I really committed—especially to the Consulting Club. That was more academically focused. But I also joined the Nordic Ski Team my freshman year, which was great. I’d been skiing through middle and high school, so continuing that at CC was a lot of fun.

Interviewer: I bet—especially being in Colorado with all the access to trails and mountains.

Emmet: Yeah, it’s a great location for it. While CC doesn’t have a varsity Nordic ski team the school does have an excellent club team. I really appreciate how involved everyone on the Nordic team is, and I think the club is representative of the student body at large at CC.

Interviewer: Interesting. I saw some students out skiing and was wondering about that—I thought maybe it was a club team or something more informal.

Emmet: Yeah, it is a club team. It’s a great community, though, and pretty active. And you’re right—there are other schools in Colorado that do have NCAA Nordic teams, so it’s kind of surprising that CC doesn’t, especially given the location. However, competing at the club level allows me to pursue other interests including alpine skiing, mountain biking, and climbing.

Interviewer: Totally—it seems like a missed opportunity since you’re in such a prime area for it. I know schools in Vermont have smaller teams, but you can often bounce between Nordic and Alpine skiing, which is really cool.

So on that note—exploring clubs, joining things like the Nordic team, meeting people post-COVID—what’s it been like living there as a student, either on or off campus? What’s the community like overall?

Emmet: Let me think about that for a second. For the first couple of years, most students are required to live on campus, which I actually really enjoyed. You have meals with everyone, you’re surrounded by your peers, and it’s a great way to meet people. One of the perks of the block plan is that everyone’s on the same schedule—three hours of class in the morning, and then you’re all done around the same time. So everyone heads to lunch together, and it’s super easy to meet up with friends, even if they’re in different classes or departments. You don’t have to worry about scheduling conflicts, like someone being in class while you’re free. That’s been a huge benefit at CC in my opinion.

Interviewer: Oh, that’s awesome! It kind of reminds me of high school in the sense that everyone has the same break times, but obviously still very different in terms of the college experience.

What about the campus and the surrounding area—where exactly is Colorado College located again?

Emmet: It’s in Colorado Springs, which is a pretty large and growing city in Colorado. A lot of people are moving here from Denver, and we’re right at the base of Pikes Peak, which is a massive mountain. From the town to the summit is actually one of the biggest elevation changes in the lower 48 states, which is wild.

Interviewer: That’s amazing. I’ve seen so many people post about skiing and hiking out there—it looks beautiful.

Emmet: Yeah, it’s a huge draw for students. There are tons of recreation—mountain biking, hiking, skiing—you name it. Especially in the winter, a lot of students head up into the mountains for Alpine skiing or get involved in outdoor clubs.

Interviewer: That’s really cool. What about hangout spots—on campus or in town—are there any places students tend to go regularly?

Yeah, I think a lot of people gravitate toward outdoor activities, but on campus there are also popular coffee shops, study spots, and common areas where students hang out. Once people move off campus—usually senior year—you’ll see more gatherings at off-campus houses or in the apartments.

Interviewer: Oh right, so most people live on campus through junior year?

Emmet: Yeah, typically students start in one of the big freshman dorms, then move into four- to eight-person apartments sophomore and junior year. Those setups are nice—you’re still somewhat on the meal plan, but you also have the flexibility to cook for yourself. Plus, the apartments are spacious enough for people to gather, so they become popular spots for get-togethers.

Interviewer: Okay, that makes sense. It’s interesting—I’ve spoken with a student from CU Boulder and just had a conversation with someone from St. Joe’s in Philadelphia, and the dynamics are definitely different. I haven’t been to Colorado Springs myself yet—we sent another colleague out there, and I was so jealous! Yeah, I think you were part of that visit in some way, or at least we talked about it. But they were saying that when students move off campus, they sometimes end up in neighborhoods with families, and that changes the dynamic. There might be more community-based events that involve faculty, local families, and students all together. That’s definitely different from a place like St. Joe’s, where students often live 20 minutes off campus and are mostly commuting.

Emmet: Yeah, that’s funny you bring that up. At CC, basically no one has to commute if they don’t want to. At most, someone might drive a block or two in the winter, but usually, even off-campus housing is just a short walk from everything. You can easily get from your house to the gym to your classes—all within walking distance.

Interviewer: That’s such a nice setup. A small campus like that is really appealing, especially when you’re surrounded by people with such diverse interests. So, let’s shift gears and talk about curriculum—specifically your major and minor. It’s a great combo, and I’d love to hear how you chose it. After that, we can dive into your role with the Consulting Club and the more professional side of things.

But starting with coursework—you’re majoring in Mathematical Economics and minoring in Computer Science. Did you come into college knowing you wanted to pursue those, or did you discover them along the way?

Emmet: I definitely discovered them in undergrad. During my freshman year, I tried a bunch of different subjects—chemistry, physics, and a range of other courses—just to get broad exposure. That was something I really appreciated about CC. I had the flexibility to explore before committing, and even with that exploration, I was still able to complete a pretty comprehensive major. The Mathematical Economics major is essentially a combination of both the Math and Economics majors—it’s almost a double major, with just one or two classes short of being both. And the Computer Science minor is also pretty extensive—almost as long as the full CS major.

Interviewer: That’s great to clarify. I used to think Mathematical Economics was just a specific track within econ, but it’s really more in-depth than that.

Emmet: Yeah, exactly.

Interviewer: And CS—just a quick technical question—is that more of a skill-based path? Since it involves programming and coding, does it feel different from the way you study math or econ?

Emmet: Yeah, I’d say so. There’s definitely a strong technical component—like learning programming languages and systems—but you also take classes like software design. In those, you’re stepping back and thinking about how to structure a project, how to design something that works in the real world. So you’re combining problem-solving with more creative thinking. It definitely gives you a different perspective than pure math or econ, and I think that blend of skills is really applicable in so many professional settings. It’s helpful when you’re thrown into a new project and someone says, “Hey Emmet, figure this out,” and you’re like, “Okay… what does that even mean?” But that’s part of the fun.

Interviewer: Totally! That’s where the creative side comes in. And bringing that back to your interest in consulting—it sounds like a perfect overlap. You’ve got the technical background and now you’re adding in soft skills and strategic thinking. Are there roles in consulting that really bring all of that together?

Emmet: Definitely. Consulting is super competitive right now—especially the top firms like MBB, as well as the leading economic and strategy consulting firms. But they’re a great fit for people with both strong quantitative and qualitative skills. And on campus—which I know we’ll talk more about in a second—our Consulting Club really focuses on that balance. The coursework builds the quantitative foundation, and the club helps you apply it through real-world case prep, projects, and practice with those softer skills.

Interviewer: So, the club provides more of that qualitative experience to complement what you’re learning in class—that’s really cool! Let’s dive into the Consulting Club because I’ve been excited to hear more. You got involved early on, and now you’re the president. What’s the structure like, and what are you all working on right now?

Emmet: Yeah, the club has evolved quite a bit in the last few years. One of the biggest changes is our new annual project. Each year, we take on a client and provide a real consulting service—analyzing a specific problem they’re facing and figuring out how they can best use their resources to solve it.

Interviewer: That’s awesome—so you’re working with real clients and real projects?

Emmet: Right now, since it’s a relatively new initiative, we’ve mainly been working with on-campus organizations. For example, we’ve done a project on how to improve the Career Center’s services. But we’re looking to expand and have started reaching out to companies in Colorado Springs and even nationally to take on more professional-level projects.

Interviewer: That’s such a smart move for CC—leveraging the talent of their own students. It gives you real experience, and the school benefits from your ideas and analysis.

Emmet: Yeah, it’s been a great setup. And while the club is almost entirely student-run at this point, we do have a few on-campus advisors. We also connect with alumni pretty regularly, especially for mentorship and project guidance. But in terms of leadership and direction, students really drive everything. The annual project, for example, was a student-led idea from the start.

Interviewer: Very cool. And I imagine that kind of experience can be part of your portfolio—it pulls together so many of the skills you’ve been developing.

So let’s talk about the path to president. What are some of the other roles in the club, and how did you work your way up?

Emmet: I joined the club around the end of my freshman year or the beginning of sophomore year. At first, you’re just learning about consulting as a field—how it works, what types of cases are out there, and how to approach them. You get exposure through practice cases, speaker events, and connecting with alumni. From there, once you have a basic understanding, you can join the project team. That group is usually around 10 students who work directly on the consulting project. After gaining experience in that role, one team member is typically chosen to lead the next year’s project—and from that pool, we usually select the club’s administrative leadership, including the next president.

Interviewer: Got it! And you mentioned around 10 students are involved with the project team—how many students are part of the club overall?

Emmet: It really depends on the time of year, but consistently we have about 20 active members who regularly attend events. And we have a wider group—around 50 students—who attend occasionally, maybe once a month. That’s actually a significant portion of the student body considering how small CC is.

Interviewer: Yeah, that’s a great turnout. And I’m sure you’re also building relationships through it—new friends, future colleagues.

Emmet: Definitely. One of the things I love about the club—and honestly about a lot of clubs at CC—is that there’s a strong focus on mentoring the next generation of leaders. The idea is that once someone gets to that leadership level, they’ve built a deep understanding of both the academic and career paths associated with the field. So they’re in a great position to pass that knowledge on.

Interviewer: That’s so valuable. I started doing these interviews partly for that reason—the peer-to-peer learning and leadership development that happens naturally, especially when upperclassmen mentor younger students. Of course, there are formal campus resources too, but that student-led guidance is really powerful.

Looking ahead, it sounds like you’re blending those two worlds—data and consulting. Can you walk us through your experience so far?

Emmet: During my freshman year, I started with a data analysis position at the University of Wyoming. It was more of a research role, funded by a grant, where I analyzed climate patterns across the state. I did a lot of regression modeling and quantitative data analysis, which really helped me realize how much I enjoyed that kind of work. It gave me a solid foundation heading into sophomore year. From there, I started developing an interest in both consulting and finance. I learned about the Tuck Business Bridge Program as a great way to explore that further. So the summer after sophomore year—last summer—I continued my research internship part-time while also attending the Tuck program. That gave me a really in-depth look into business and consulting, while still keeping me engaged in research. It was a great balance. And now this coming summer, I’ve been focused on interviewing with some of the larger consulting firms—specifically Bain and McKinsey—as well as several economic consulting firms. My goal is to eventually start my career in one of those areas. I think consulting is a great way to get broad exposure to different industries, especially since I’m coming in with a strong quantitative background but haven’t decided on one specific sector yet.

Interviewer: That totally makes sense. And being able to balance those opportunities and still have time for outdoor adventures—I feel like that’s very you.

Emmet: Yeah, I try to keep that balance! It’s definitely a part of what makes everything feel sustainable and fun.

Zooming out a little—are there many career opportunities in Colorado Springs, or do most people end up heading to Denver or elsewhere after graduation?

Emmet: Good question. I actually think Colorado Springs has more opportunities than people expect. There’s a strong presence of tech companies and data analysis firms—Oracle, for example, has a major office here. It’s not their headquarters, but it’s a big location. The city is definitely becoming a growing hub for tech and, by extension, consulting. There are also a lot of energy companies supporting that ecosystem, especially with the increasing need for data center analytics. So while it may not be on the same scale as some East Coast cities, it’s absolutely expanding and creating more local opportunities, which is great.

Interviewer: Yeah, totally. I was surprised by the size of the city. It’s almost 500,000 people—and bigger than Boulder, which often gets more attention for tech. So there’s clearly a lot happening.

Emmet: Definitely plenty going on.

Interviewer: I think what’s exciting is that you don’t necessarily have to move far from school to find interesting work anymore. And places like Colorado Springs give you that quality of life plus growing professional opportunities.

So we’ve covered a lot—your coursework, consulting interest, internship experience, and what’s next for you. Before we wrap up, I always ask this one final question: What’s your best advice for making the most of undergrad?

Emmet: Okay—so, especially at a liberal arts school, I’d say the best advice is to come in with an open mind. Try a lot of different things early on. There’s so much pressure to lock into one path right away, but that can actually be limiting. Industries are evolving quickly, and if you build all your skills around one very specific niche too early, it can be tough to pivot later if you decide it’s not the right fit. It’s more valuable, in my opinion, to build a broad and adaptable skill set—something that gives you options. College is a unique time to experiment, and taking advantage of that flexibility is one of the best things you can do.

Interviewer: And maybe that’s a good segue into your parting advice—what would you share with other students, either academically or personally?

Emmet: Yeah, I’d say from an academic and career standpoint, definitely stay open-minded. But beyond that, just take the time to meet as many people on campus as you can. One of the biggest strengths of college is the community you build, and the friendships you make really can last a lifetime.

Interviewer: That’s such great advice. I don’t think it really hit me until about a year after graduating. It’s that cliché you hear growing up—high school, college, every activity you do, people are always encouraging you to meet others. Then suddenly, you’re in a job where maybe you have five, ten, fifteen people on your team. Outside of that, it’s completely on you to make connections. And it’s different. Sure, you can go to a restaurant, happy hour, or something like that. But it’s not the same as collaborating on a project, or being in a club together, or mountain biking on the weekends. Those shared experiences become a lot harder to come by after college. Yeah, so if you can take advantage of that time to build a wide base of relationships and interests, it really sets you up well, both personally and professionally. That’s amazing advice. And just to wrap up—thank you again. I know you’ve got a lot going on, so I really appreciate you making time. I think students are going to learn a ton from hearing your perspective—your experience, your skillset, and what life at Colorado College is like.

Emmet: Thank you so much, Will. I really appreciate it.