25-year-old turned down Yale for a state school in 2017—now she makes $90,000 a year and has 'no regrets'

higher-educationcareeranalyticscollege-choiceivy-league

Abstraction: First-gen student chose Auburn over Yale; thriving analytically career

Key points:

Carolina Williams went viral in 2017 for a Papa Johns-themed Yale admissions essay; chose Auburn University instead
Auburn's analytics and marketing program, proximity to family in Tennessee, and larger campus size won her over
Graduated December 2020 with BS in business administration (analytics and marketing focus)
Now earns $90,000+ at Nissan's North American Future Lab as innovation and UX planner
Her salary exceeds the mid-career median for both Auburn ($67,500) and Yale ($89,700) graduates per Payscale
Cost after aid was roughly equal; Yale's prestige was not a decisive factor as first-gen student

Connections: Yale · Auburn University · Nissan · Higher Education · Career Planning