Growing up in Sheffield Village, Ohio, Zach Stepp assumed he’d attend college, but the path to higher education wasn’t always straightforward. In high school, he worked as a manager at a popular fast-food restaurant with what seemed like good opportunities. “Taking out massive student loans and moving away from that job would have been a difficult decision,” he reflected. 

His idea about college changed when his English teacher and Model United Nations coach, Mr. Dennis Arko, handed him a QuestBridge pamphlet and urged him to apply. “Mr. Arko knew my family struggled a lot more than most of the kids at my school… [He pushed] me to apply to QuestBridge and dream big about ‘stretch’ colleges.” Despite the encouragement, Zach kept his expectations modest. 

“The biggest challenge was definitely how selective the partner schools appeared. I did not see myself seriously at any of those schools, even with pretty decent grades,” he said. So when he received his National College Match results, he was both shocked and relieved. “When I read that I had been matched to UChicago, I recall instinctively sensing that this would be my life’s ‘big break.’ It felt like what I imagine hitting the lottery is like.”

At UChicago, Zach majored in Political Science and immersed himself in various activities. “I was involved with Model United Nations, the Institute of Politics, and worked as a campus tour guide for the Admissions Office,” he shared. UChicago also opened up opportunities for him to travel the world. “My first time on an airplane was flying out for Admitted Students Weekend. By the time I had graduated, I had traveled to Seoul, Havana, and Vienna. UChicago opened a gateway to the world I never imagined.” 

After graduation, Zach began his career in government and public sector consulting at EY, where he developed expertise in data analytics, strategic planning, and operating model design. But Zach felt there was more to learn. “All these skills were developed with on-the-job training, with a foundation from my liberal arts education, but did not rely on academic training in business. As such, I wanted to explore these subjects further and refine my skill set to become more well-rounded and equipped for other roles,” he shared. This desire led him to pursue an MBA.

When choosing a program, Zach took advantage of the QuestBridge Graduate School Match for a two-year, full-tuition scholarship. He returned to UChicago, enrolling at the Booth School of Business, which focuses on The Chicago Approach — a world-renowned business philosophy grounded in analytics and evidence. “Coming from a low-income background, [it’s difficult] to justify taking time away from the job market [to pursue a graduate degree.] However, with the financial support, the value of the degree becomes clearer, even with taking some time away from work.”

At Booth, Zach’s MBA experience has been defined by exploration and connection. “The Booth community has been tremendous – I’ve made great friends and gone on amazing trips to make lifelong connections.” One highlight was the Random Walk trip, where first-year students were randomly paired with other class members to attend an international trip. “I signed up for the mystery trip and didn’t know where we were going until we got to the airport. We ended up in Brazil, and I made some of my closest friends at Booth on that trip.”

Looking to the future, Zach plans to continue making a difference. “Ultimately, my goal is impact. I would like to be in a role that maximizes my capacity to help make the world a better place,” he said. “I’m excited about the wide range of opportunities that a Booth MBA sets me up for, and I look forward to exploring those opportunities now and well beyond graduation.”

To QuestBridge Alumni considering an MBA, Zach emphasized, “There’s never a ‘perfect’ time to step away and get [an MBA] done. If you’re trying to wait for the perfect timing, you’re probably not going to find it. Weigh the benefits of expanding your network and taking a couple of years to make new friends and see more of the world. When reflecting on my time as an MBA student, I think those memories will be just as valuable as the professional benefits of holding the degree.”

In reflecting on his academic and professional journey, he had more advice to share: “I think that the most important lesson learned has to be the importance of demanding a seat at the table.  Dream big and know your value. There are sometimes instances of people helping open doors for you, but more often than not, you need to knock on that door to get ahead. Don’t wait for your ‘turn’ or the ‘standard’ promotion cycle. If you see yourself capable of a role, build that business case and justify it. Odds are that you are just as – if not more – capable and qualified for that role, but you just need the self-confidence to pursue it and, in many cases, insist upon it.”