Interview with Huck Trafton, Bowdoin College

Interview with Huck Trafton, Bowdoin College

Interviewer: Awesome. So just to kick things off — you’re a sophomore at Bowdoin. You play lacrosse, you’re in the investment club, a mentor in a campus program, and you recently landed a Goldman Sachs internship. That’s a big deal — congrats.

Huck: Thanks, yeah, I appreciate it.

Interviewer: Let’s start from the top — how’d you end up at Bowdoin? What was your path here?

Huck: Yeah, so I’m from York, Maine. I actually transferred to Governor’s Academy for high school, where I repeated my junior year — partly because of COVID, and also to reclass and get another shot at recruiting for lacrosse. I was looking for a place that had both strong academics and competitive athletics. Bowdoin wasn’t necessarily on my radar at first — I didn’t think I’d stay in Maine — but it ended up being the best academic school I could get into through lacrosse. And once I started learning more about it — the team, the school, the culture — it felt like the right fit.

Interviewer: So it sounds like the academic-athletic combo was really important to you?

Huck: Yeah, 100%. I wanted a place where I could play competitive lacrosse but also set myself up for life after college.

Interviewer: What was your recruiting process like? Were you looking at a bunch of schools?

Huck: My recruiting process was a bit different since I repeated a year. I looked at a bunch of NESCAC schools — Middlebury, Amherst, places like that — and a couple lower-level D1 programs, but the academic side wasn’t as strong at those. Once Bowdoin started recruiting me, it became pretty clear that it was the best combination of academics and athletics. And it ended up being the perfect fit — academically, socially, and athletically.

Interviewer: Do you have any plans to continue lacrosse after college? Or is this kind of the end of the line?

Huck: Yeah, I’d say college is probably the end. Lacrosse doesn’t have a big pro scene. We actually had three guys from our team last year who played D1 as grad students — one of them got drafted into the NLL, which was awesome to see. So yeah, it’s possible to keep playing if you want, but I don’t see myself going that route.

Interviewer: Got it. Okay, let’s talk about the transition to Bowdoin — what was that like for you as a first-year?

Huck: Honestly, I had a pretty smooth transition. I had already lived away from home a bit at Governor’s, so I was used to the independence. But still — college is a step up. You’re managing more — classes, sports, social life — all on your own. Academically, I had a bit of a learning curve. I wasn’t the best student in high school — I was decent, but not great. I had to figure out how to choose classes that matched my learning style and find professors I connected with. Once I did that, things got a lot better.

Interviewer: Let’s talk about classes — what’s your major, and how’d you land on it?

Huck: I’m currently double majoring in Economics and Government, though I might end up majoring in one and minoring in the other. Like most Bowdoin students interested in finance, I started with Econ because we don’t have a business or finance major. Then I picked up Government because I’m also really interested in policy, international relations, and public service. I think they complement each other really well — Econ gives you the quantitative and analytical side, while Government sharpens your writing and critical thinking.

Interviewer: What classes have stood out so far?

Huck: I’ve taken Intro Micro and Macro, core Econ classes like statistics and intermediate macro, and now I’m starting to take more major-specific Government classes like U.S. Congress and International Relations. I’m also going abroad next semester, which I’m excited for — I’ll get a new perspective and probably take more Gov courses while I’m there.

Interviewer: Long-term, do you see yourself going into finance after graduation?

Huck: Yeah, that’s the plan. Bowdoin’s a liberal arts school, and the biggest thing I’ve learned is how to learn — how to process information, problem-solve, write well, and think critically. That transfers directly into the finance world. That’s kind of what led me to the Goldman Sachs opportunity.

Interviewer: Let’s talk about that. First off — congrats. That’s a huge win, especially this early. How did it come about?

Huck: Yeah, thank you. So I just got the offer for Summer 2026 last week. It’s for their Asset and Wealth Management Division. The process started about a year ago. I got involved in the Polar Investment Club on campus and started to learn more about investing. I had no clue what I was doing at first — I just joined because I wanted to learn. Then last summer, I did the Tuck Business Bridge Program at Dartmouth. That was a game changer. It was a three-week intensive crash course in finance, accounting, marketing, and Excel modeling. It really prepared me for interviews and gave me a strong foundation. From there, I started networking like crazy — using LinkedIn, reaching out to Bowdoin alumni, especially those in the lacrosse and finance world. People were super helpful. Every conversation helped me get a better understanding of what the job really entails. Eventually, I interviewed — had a first round, then a Superday. It was a long process, but I felt really prepared.

Interviewer: Did you mostly network through Bowdoin, or did you have to do a lot of that outreach on your own?

Huck: A lot of it was on my own. The Career Exploration Center is a great resource, but it really comes down to taking initiative. I don’t have a 4.0 GPA, so I knew I needed to differentiate myself. I networked hard — talking to alumni, asking smart questions, and being persistent. It ended up paying off.

Interviewer: And you’re also doing a different internship this summer, right? What’s that about?

Huck: Yeah, this summer I’ll be working at Tema ETFs. They’re a niche asset management firm that builds active ETFs focused on specific investment themes. The internship is hybrid — I’ll be onsite for a week to meet the team, then work remotely on a project, and go back to present my work. It’s a cool opportunity to see how a smaller, innovative firm operates, and it’ll help me build experience before I head to Goldman the following year.

Interviewer: Shifting gears a bit — what’s life like on campus? What’s the vibe at Bowdoin and in Brunswick?

Huck: Bowdoin is in Brunswick, which is about 30 to 45 minutes north of Portland. It’s a small town, but there are good restaurants and shops, and we’re close to the coast — there are beaches nearby, and we have a dock for marine science students. Campus is beautiful — especially in the fall and spring. Right now I live in a suite-style dorm with a kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Definitely an upgrade from first-year housing.

Interviewer: What’s the social scene like? Is it mainly sports-driven?

Huck: Yeah, I’d say a big part of the social scene is athletic-based. We don’t have Greek life, but there are “social houses” that replaced frats — they still host parties and events. But most social life revolves around athletic teams. It’s not a massive party school or anything, but there’s always something going on — and people have a good time. If you’re not on a team, it might take a bit more effort to plug into the scene, but there are a ton of clubs, performances, events, and ways to meet people.

Interviewer: How about the broader community — does Brunswick show up for Bowdoin?

Huck: Definitely. The town supports Bowdoin athletics in a big way. Our women’s basketball team had packed crowds during the NCAA tournament. Local families come to lacrosse games, and kids will line up to get autographs. The community vibe is strong — it’s small, but people are involved.

Interviewer: Before we wrap — any other programs or experiences that were pivotal for you professionally?

Huck: Yeah — like I said earlier, the Polar Investment Club was big for me. I joined not knowing much, but it gave me exposure to markets and investing. Also, the Tuck Business Bridge Program was a game changer. It taught me Excel, accounting, and how to communicate effectively. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking to break into finance from a liberal arts school.

Interviewer: Finally, any advice you’d share with students considering Bowdoin? Or future student-athletes?

Huck: I’d just say — Bowdoin’s an awesome place if you’re willing to be proactive. You won’t be handed anything, but if you put yourself out there and ask for help, people will go out of their way to support you. The alumni network is strong, the community is tight-knit, and you can build a really solid foundation for whatever comes next.

Interviewer: Thanks, Huck — really appreciate you taking the time to share your story.

Huck: Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for having me.