Grace Doolittle
Business Major '27
Concentration in Finance
Hometown: Waco, TX
Why did you choose Rice University?
When I was looking at colleges, I wanted to find a school with a strong business program. Rice’s undergraduate business major felt like an exciting opportunity to study at a top business school while also helping shape its environment during its early years. I was pleasantly surprised to be admitted after applying Regular Decision and felt a real sense of peace about choosing Rice. It’s been such a great decision!
Why did you choose to major in business?
I’ve known since my freshman year of high school that I wanted to go into business. I had the opportunity to work with an organization in Ethiopia that helps women launch their own microenterprises by developing business strategies and training local leaders. I was inspired by both the strategy behind the work and the profound impact it created, and I decided I wanted to learn as much as possible about business to make a greater difference in the future.
What is your concentration and why did you select that concentration?
I’m concentrating in Finance. Even though the Management concentration aligns more closely with my skills and long-term goals, I knew I’d never learn the finance side unless I took the time to study it now. And I’ve loved it! I’ve learned so much more than I expected, thanks to the amazing professors at Rice Business.
How did you secure your internship at BCG in Austin?
Two key elements of consulting recruiting are coffee chats and casing. With coffee chats, it’s not about meeting as many people as possible; it’s about building genuine connections by truly caring about the person in front of you and learning from their journey. I met some awesome people who felt like friends, and I think that genuine approach helped me stand out as a candidate. For casing, I practiced with peers, upperclassmen and friends at the firms until I felt confident tackling any problem in an interview.
How did Rice Business help prepare you for your internship?
The clubs and community within the business school have helped me go a long way. Through Rice Consulting, I gained hands-on experience working on real projects. I also met classmates and teammates who invested in me, connecting me with people at firms and helping me prepare for interviews. Being involved in clubs at Rice Business gave me valuable leadership experience, from coordinating events with target companies to developing talking points that came up during interviews.
In what ways did Rice Business help you secure this internship?
Being a relatively young program within a school that has such a rich culture means the Rice network is exceptionally strong. Rice students and alumni go to great lengths to support one another’s success, especially if you’re willing to ask for guidance. Our school and clubs also have strong relationships with the firms, regularly bringing representatives to campus and organizing visits to their offices just a few miles away. These connections create unmatched access to target companies and open all kinds of doors.
What clubs or organizations are you involved in at Rice?
I have the privilege of serving as president of Rice Women in Business and director of recruiting at Rice Consulting, and I am part of Cru, a campus ministry at Rice.
How has your involvement in those clubs or organizations contribute to securing your internship?
Solving real clients’ problems and leading a team through Rice Consulting taught me so much about consulting work and confirmed that this was the career path I’m most excited about. As last year’s vice president of Rice Women in Business, I reached out to companies to host them on campus for information sessions, coordinated logistics and worked to create a seamless experience for them. Through that, I built genuine connections with firm representatives and recruiters who later helped flag my resume during recruiting season. These experiences also brought challenges I could speak to in interviews, showing that I can tackle complex client problems and overcome obstacles in the consulting world.
What was your favorite class at Rice Business? Why?
It’s a toss-up between “Strategic Management” and “Financial Statement Analysis.” I loved learning how CEOs of Fortune 500 companies navigate major challenges and analyzing the industries, companies and risk factors that shape those decisions. I also enjoyed learning to spot trends and indicators of company performance through financial statements. The professors for both classes clearly care about their students and their success, which made the experience even better.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time so far at Rice?
I’ll never forget the water balloon fight during Beer Bike my freshman year. Beer Bike is one of Rice’s most iconic events, and I remember getting hit by water balloons left and right, each one from someone I’d met that year in classes, at my college, in clubs or while hanging out at Chaus. I was amazed by how many people I’d connected with in just one year and felt that deep sense of the Rice community so strongly in that moment.
What advice would you give to prospective students who are considering Rice Business and are interested in consulting?
Think about the kind of community you want to be part of, the experience you want to gain and the impact you want to make. If you’re looking for a strong community, real-world experience, and the chance to create lasting impact, Rice Business (and consulting) is the perfect place. Build genuine connections and invest in the people around you. In business, we consider how decisions affect both profit and people. Don’t neglect profit, but always prioritize people.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Go to Rice Football games! HOOT ’EM!!!