Jacob McCool – June 2020
Texas A&M Department of Economics Amazing Student
June, 2020
Name: Jacob McCool
Hometown: Plano, TX
High School: Plano West Senior High School
Degree objective: BS in Economics, Master of Science in Economics
Expected graduation: December 2020
University highlights, awards, scholarships: Dean’s Honor Roll and Distinguished Student designations.
Current employment: CFO Data Analytics Intern with USAA.
Family ties to Texas A&M: I am the first person in my family to attend Texas A&M.
I chose to attend Texas A&M because… Texas A&M’s core values represent my personal beliefs and standards. In addition to these values, Texas A&M University provides tremendous opportunity for academic and professional development. I have always held the university in high regard, and I am proud to attend a school that is dedicated to its student’s success.
My favorite things to do on campus are… My favorite things to do on campus are going to Aggie football games and studying. Football games are a huge part of the Aggie culture here and it is always a great time. Additionally, the university has plenty of amenities that make studying a more enjoyable experience.
When I have free time, I like… When I have free time, I like to spend time with friends or family. I also like learning new things and reading
The craziest thing I’ve done is… The craziest thing I’ve done is pet a fully grown lion in Zambia. No, it was not like the Tiger King on Netflix.
My favorite place to study is… My favorite place to study is the second floor of the Student Computing Center (SCC). It’s great because its quiet and you have access to the TAMU labs.
My favorite ECON professor is… My favorite professor is Steven Wiggins. Dr. Wiggins was the first professor to challenge and push me to better myself as a student and as a professional. If you take his upper-level courses, then be prepared to be pushed, challenged, and even frustrated at times. His advice, teaching methods, and dedication continue to be an inspiration to me.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with Thomas Sowell. Dr. Sowell is the man who introduced me to economics, and for that, I am thankful.
If I knew I could not fail, I would… If I knew I could not fail, I would pursue my Ph.D. in mathematics or economics.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to… If money was not a consideration, I would love to visit every country in the world.
What is your passion and how are you committed to pursuing it? I am passionate about the people in my life. As a Christian, I want the people around me to experience the joy and peace that I feel in my own life. I am committed to pursuing this by sharing my personal experiences and opinions on subject
After graduation, I plan to… After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in data. My current interests revolve around decision science roles. I enjoy finding creative data driven solutions to real world business problems.
The one Texas A&M experience I will always remember is… The one Texas A&M University experience I will always remember will be my first Midnight Yell. It was my first time inside Kyle field and the environment that night was like nothing I had ever felt before. It was an awesome introduction to the Aggie spirit.