Potential

Beginning your college career at a large institution such as Cal is a daunting task. In a large pool of students, you are not sure where you fit in or what to do with your life. This is the situation I was in during my first two years at Cal. Born and raised in the Bay Area, I found it hard to venture out to meet new people when my high school friends were close by. At the same time, I was doing great in my academic studies but had no idea what I would do when I graduated. Going into my junior year, I knew I wanted to make my last two years the most memorable years of my life and that Alpha Kappa Psi really made sure of that.

Passion

Alpha Kappa Psi provided me an answer to all the questions that I had. This fraternity provided me with an unparalleled experience as I became a part of a culture of intelligence, integrity, ambition and cooperation. The experienced brothers and alumni of the fraternity acted as mentors in my quest to achieve my career goals. The fraternity's internal programs gave me the tools and skills that were necessary to succeed in the workplace. And finally, the vast alumni network provided me with unique opportunities that were unavailable to others. However, the most important thing that I will take away from this fraternity is the long-lasting relationships I was able to develop within this tightly-knit organization.

Biography

Morgan joined Alpha Kappa Psi during the first semester of his 3rd-year. His past work experiences include Chevron FSS, where he worked as an internal audit analyst working on SOX compliance, and Citigroup CIB, where he worked on large loans and corporate finance decisions for technology clients. His interests include many sports, especially hockey, and he can often be found rooting on the San Jose Sharks at the HP Pavilion.

Potential

When I rushed I was beginning my sophomore year in college. During my first year I had met more people than I could remember, had more fun than I could have imagined and got more out of college than I could have asked for. During High School I had always been involved in student organizations and I wanted something similar during my college experience. I was searching for an organization that I would truly feel a part of and at the same time would motivate me to achieve everything I wanted out of college.

Rushing a business fraternity (a fraternity nonetheless) was a strange feeling. My parents were skeptical of the idea and I myself wasn't convinced until I went to Alpha Kappa Psi's Meet the Chapter night. It was their first event and after speaking with several brothers who would later become great friends, mentors and professionals in the working world, I was convinced that this was the organization I wanted to join.

I was clueless about what career I was interested in. I knew that I wanted to work in some business related field and that I wanted to join an organization composed of individuals who had the ambition and passion to succeed and help others succeed. I wanted to join a group of people who were serious about their career goals but at the same time offered an opportunity for great friendship. By the end of rush, I can't say that I knew with complete certainty whether or not Alpha Kappa Psi could offer all I wanted out of college but I knew that without taking this great opportunity I would never know what Alpha Kappa Psi truly meant to me.

Passion

I had no idea where I wanted to go professionaly and I wanted a group of friends I could depend on throughout college.

After joining alpha Kappa Psi I was able to talk to brothers in different career industries who were already living their professional goals. Through their insight I not only figured out what professional career I wanted to try but I was offered personal guidance about how to get an internship, and ultimately a job offer, at the best company for me.

In addition, I met a group of friends I know I can depend on during college and well after. It isn't only my own experiences that provide personal convinction, but when I meet Alpha Kappa Psi alumni who still frequently keep in touch with their brothers during their time at Berkeley. While I've found that every brother has a different experience with Alpha Kappa Psi, it's undeniable that for every brother Alpha Kappa Psi has been a tremendous influence in their college experience.

Biography

Born and raised from southern California, Alexi Chialtas is a fourth year at UC Berkeley, majoring in Business Administration and Economics. Alexi has developed a wide range of skills during his professional experiences as a Residential Assistant at Hillside International Dormitory, a computer Consultant for Berkeley Internet Systems and Technology, Project Manager for Alpha Beta Consulting and as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at JPMorgan. Alexi participates in most sports but particularly enjoys swimming, baseball and running. Alexi insists that family and friends are essential for enjoying life to its fullest.

Potential

I first rushed during second semester of freshman year. I came out to Meet the Chapter Night because of a handbill that my classmate gave me, and I never would have thought that classmate would go on to become a close friend of mine down the road. As a freshman, I really didn't know what I wanted to do in college yet. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to get into Haas, and that business fraternities were the best at helping people accomplish that.

I was hooked right after Meet the Chapter Night by all the great things AKPsi offered, but I really wasn't ready for it. I stumbled through rush without knowing what I was doing, and the only thing that was clear to me was the thought "please let me get in!!" As expected, I didn't receive a bid my first time.

Although I was disappointed, I knew deep down inside that this was an organization that I wanted to join. I decided not to give up, and spent my time up until the next rush preparing myself in becoming a better candidate. When sophomore year came, I rushed again. After a semester of waiting and thinking, I knew why I wanted to be part of this organization this time. I was tired of doing nothing in college besides going to classes. I wanted to find a new group of friends to replace the high school friends that I missed. I didn't want to go through four years of college and have nothing to show for it. I wanted to find a niche on campus with people that I can surround myself with and help me grow. AKPsi was all of that, and some more. The experience I've had since pledging AKPsi surpassed my expectations greatly.

Passion

Ever since joining AKPsi, my time in school has been much more well spent and fulfilling. AKPsi gave me a sense of purpose both academically and professionally, and the brothers have gone beyond their obligations many times to help me achieve my goals. My Haas HELP buddies spent countless hours on my application, making sure no stone was left unturned and that everything was perfect down to the very last details. Resume and cover letter critiques, mock interviews, and a network of alumni in prestigious companies offering numerous opportunities were just some of the resources available to me.

As a result, I was able to get into Haas, in addition to obtaining internships at Smith Barney, Merrill Lynch, as well as some other offers that I turned down. This is simply because of these passionate people around me and their eagerness to help. It's like having a family that wants to see you succeed, and it's a great feeling.

You might wonder why anyone would go to such trouble to help someone else succeed. And that is where the greatest part of AKPsi comes in: brotherhood. The friendships that are established in AKPsi are guaranteed to be one of the strongest you'll ever find. Only when people truly care about each other will they go to such distances to help each other. Without brotherhood as the foundation, the members of AKPsi wouldn't have the accomplishments they have today professionally. So although all of those tangible achievements are great to have, it is the intangible things in AKPsi that make it a great organization: the brotherhood and our passion.

Biography

Sam pledged Alpha Kappa Psi during the first semester of his sophomore year, and is a member of the Nu class. Since joining Alpha Kappa Psi, Sam has worked at Smith Barney as an Equity Research Intern and at Merrill Lynch as a Private Wealth Management Intern. He enjoys hanging out with his friends, following the NBA, and playing strategic games like poker and Go.